ELEGANT TINAMOU. Tinamotis 



naving been of so vile an odour that even the sailors, with their proverbial appetites for 

 fresh meat, could not touch the ill-savoured flesh, while in other cases the bird is reported 

 to be of excellent quality and equal to duck in tenderness and flavour. The legs of the 

 Sheath-bill are rather long in proportion to the size of the body ; and as it always frequents 

 the sea-side, running in and out of the water in search of its food, and possesses many of 

 the habits of the waders, it has been classed by some naturalists among these birds. 



The White Sheath-bill is a pretty bird, its whole plumage being pure white, and the 

 legs reddish black. The generical name, Chionis, is derived from a Greek word, signifying 

 snow, and is given to this bird in allusion to its pure snow-white plumage. In total length, 

 the adult male measures about fifteen inches. 



The ELEGANT TINAMOU is one of the handsomest, though not the largest, of the family 

 to which it belongs. 



The Tinamous are only found in South America, where they are tolerably common. 

 The word Tinamou is the native name for these birds ; and as they bear some resemblance 

 to bustards, the generic title of Tinamotis, although rather a barbarous combination of 

 languages, is sufficiently appropriate. 



The Tinamous are found in the open fields, preferring those which lie on the borders 

 of woods. They are very seldom known to perch on branches, and are not very willing to 

 use their wings, trusting rather to the swiftness of their legs. Of one species of Tinamou, 

 Mr. Darwin writes as follows : " These birds do not go in coveys, nor do they conceal 

 themselves like the English kind. It appears a very silly bird. A man on horseback, by 

 riding round and round in a circle, or rather in a spire, so as to approach closer each time, 

 may knock on the head as many as he pleases. The more common method is, to catch 



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