56 



BIRD GALLERY. 



this pouch is retained in adult birds throughout the year or developed 

 afresh each season. A female of the Great Bustard with her downy 

 nestlings may be seen on the floor of Case 29. 



The largest of all is the Paauw or Kori Bustard (Eupodotis kori] (592) , 

 from the plains of Africa : and among the forms characterised by oi'na- 

 mental plumes on the crown and neck we may draAv attention to 

 Macqueen's Bustard already mentioned above, and the Lesser Elorican 

 or Likh (Sypheotis aurita) (588), which is further remarkable for its 

 acuminate flight-feathers. 



Order XIII. OPISTHOCOMIFORMES. 

 Family OnsTHOcoMiDyE. HOATZIN. (Plate X.) 



|Table- The singular South American bird known as the Hoatziii (Opistho- 

 case in comus Ji 0a2 ' m ^ (594) is the only representative of this Order, and has 



of Bay.] been referred by different naturalists to the Game-Birds and other 

 groups. In spite of its external resemblance to the Guans, it is perhaps 

 more nearly allied to the Rails, while certain points of structure seem 

 to indicate considerable affinity to the Cuckoos. It inhabits the banks 

 of the Amazon and other great South American rivers, extending as far 

 south as Bolivia. The skeleton presents many remarkable modifications, 

 the sternum being unlike that of any other species of bird. The keel 

 is much reduced and its posterior termination is flatteiied-out into a 

 broadened surface which supports the greater part of the weight of 

 the body when the bird is at rest. The enormous size of the crop has 

 probably caused the curious modifications which the furcula, sternum, 

 and pectoral muscles have undergone. The food consists of leaves and 

 fruit, and the birds after death have a very unpleasant odour which 

 prevents them being used as food. In spite of their large wings the 

 flight of these birds is very feeble and awkward, and when disturbed they 

 only fly for a very short distance. The nestlings, which can both see 

 and crawl soon after they are hatched, have a well-developed claw on 

 the pollex and index fingers of the wings by means of which they creep 

 about among the branches assisted by the bill and feet. They can also 

 swim and dive well. The nest, a loose platform of spiny twigs, is 

 placed on branches overhanging the water, and the eggs closely resemble 

 those laid by the Corn-Crake and other Rails. 



Order XIV. GRUI FORMES. CRANE-LIKE BIRDS. 



[Cases This Order includes the Cranes and a number of allied but some- 

 what aberrant forms. In general external appearance they resemble 



