WILD BIRDS SUSCEPTIBLE OF DOMESTICATION. 



THE GAI.EATED CUKASSOW. 



feathers about three inches long, curled forward, 

 of a velvety appearance, and capable of being 

 raised or depressed at will. In several species, 

 as in the Galeated Curassow, the Guan, the 

 Razor-billed Curassow, and others, the wind- 

 pipe makes one, two, or even three deep folds 

 between the skin and muscles of the breast be- 

 fore passing into the cavity of the chest. Ber- 

 ries and various sorts of grain constitute the 

 food of these birds, and they are remarkable 

 for lameness, becoming easily domesticated. 



" In many parts of South America," says Mr. 

 Bennett, " these birds have long been reclaimed ; 

 and it is really surprising, considering their ex- 

 treme familiarity of manners, and the facility 

 with which they appear to pass from a state of 

 nature to the lameness of domestic fowls, that 

 they have not been introduced into the poultry- 

 yards of Europe. That with proper treatment 

 they would speedily become habituated to the 

 climate, we have no reason to doubt ; on the 

 Contrary, numerous examples have shown that | 

 they thrive well even in its northern parts, and 



M. Temminck informs us that they have been, 

 once at least, thoroughly acclimated in Holland, 

 where they were as prolific in the domestic state 

 as any of our common poultry. The establish- 

 ment, however, in which this had been effected 

 was broken up by the civil commotions which 

 followed in the train of the French Revolution, 

 and the results of much labor lost by its com- 

 plete dispersion." 



THE GALEATED CURASSOW. 



The variety known as the Galeated Curassow 

 frequents, in flocks, the forests of Mexico, and 

 perches on trees, but, as is stated, makes its nest 

 on the ground ; and the young are led by the 

 female parent in the same manner as a hen 

 leads her brood. The young are at first fed with 

 worms, larva;, and insects, and afterward pick 

 up grain, fruits, berries, etc. Like the Crested 

 Curassow, this species is easily domesticated, 

 and is one of those which bred in Holland in 

 the menagerie of M. Ameshoff. Its size is that 

 of a small turkey. Head and neck covered with 



