468 BUSTARDS, THICKNEES, AND CRANES, 



The Kagu. 



Family Rhinocecetid^. 



A remarkably grey-coloured bird from New Caledonia, known as the kagu 

 (RhinochcBtus jubatus), forms the type of a distinct family nearly allied to the 

 cranes, from which it is probably a specialised offshoot. Somewhat larger than a 

 night-heron, the kagu is easily recognised by its moderately long beak, general 

 grey colour, and the elongated pendent crest arising from the back of the head. 

 While agreeing with the cranes in the form of the nasal apertures in the skull, and 

 the absence of a notch in the breast-bone, the kagu differs by the presence of a 

 powder-down patch on each side of the nimp, and by the naked oil-gland ; while 

 it is unique among the group in having a bridged (desmognathous) palate. The 

 plumage of the under-parts is reddish brown, as is the tip of the tail ; the primary 

 quills are barred with black, white, and rufous ; and the beak, legs, and feet are 

 orange. The kagu is a nocturnal bird, feeding upon womis, molluscs, and insects ; 

 but of its breeding-habits nothing is at present known. It is remarkable for the 

 strange antics it performs; these being exhibited to a certain extent even in 

 captivity, and recalling those of the cranes. 

 Madagascar An allied bird from Madagascar (Mesites variegatus), differs from 



^*8^ the kagu, and resembles the other members of the group in having a 

 slit (schizognathous) palate, and also in having the nostrils perforated instead of 

 completely separated. It is further distinguished from that bird by the presence 

 of a notch on each side of the lower border of the breast-bone, and by the more 

 complex powder-down patches. The structure of the palate clearly shows that it 

 is a less specialised bird than the kagu, from which it is separated as the type of 

 a distinct family — the Mesitidce. It may be mentioned that in the possession of 

 powder-down patches these birds approach the herons ; and it is in part owing to 

 this feature that Mr. Beddard suggests a relationship between the two groups. 



The Sun-Bittern. 



Family EUBYPYGID^. 



The last of these aberrant crane-like birds is the so-called sun-bittern (Eurypyga 

 helias) of South America, which is structurally characterised by having a notch on 

 each side of the breast-bone, a naked oil-gland, and powder-down patches, but shows 

 no bare tracts on the sides of the neck. It is unique among the group in having 

 helpless young. The sun-bittern is a comparatively small bird, measuring only 

 16 inches in length, with a long pointed beak, and a somewhat thin and elongated 

 neck, and a peculiar transversely striped coloration of white, brown, and black. 

 The head and neck are black, with a brown streak above the eye, and another 

 running backwards from the angle of the beak to the neck ; the chin and throat 

 are white ; the feathers of the back and scapular region are black striped with 

 rusty red ; the bastard- wing and wing-covers are black and white ; the feathers of 

 the neck barred with brown and black; those of the under-parts yellowish or 



