CHAP. i.J IMPOBTED LONG AGO. 235 



poultry, much more so than Guinea-fowl do, neither 

 fearing their co-mates, nor yet attempting to tyrannise 

 over them. 



Who, then, that has a poultry-yard and its usual ap- 

 purtenances, can help wishing to introduce therein a 

 few of these most promising and inviting creatures, 

 about which so strong aprimd facie case has been made 

 out ? If we closed our record and description here, 

 many of our readers might perhaps be inclined at once 

 to commence the experiment. Before they do so, we 

 will request their attention to the pleadings on the 

 other side of the Court. 



The birds themselves are no novel importation from 

 the western world : a few rare species have of late been 

 brought over-sea for the first time, but those which are 

 recommended as most likely, not merely to live, but to 

 increase in a domesticated state, have been introduced to 

 Europe nearly, perhaps quite, as long as the Turkey, 

 which has been propagated with such ease and rapidity. 

 Aldrovandi (A.D. 1637) gives very recognisable descrip- 

 tions and figures of both the crested and the galeated 

 Curassows, which were communicated to him by Ferdi- 

 nand, Grand Duke of Tuscany : he also figures and 

 describes a bird which is undoubtedly a Guan. This, 

 however, and two of his Curassows are represented as 

 tailless, of course from defective specimens. He speaks 

 of them all as Indian Cocks and Hens. 



Edwards * figures the Currassow-Bird and the Cushew- 

 Bird (Galeated Curassow) from life. " The Cushew- 

 Bird takes its name from the knob over its bill, which 

 in shape much resembles an American nut called the 



* Gleanings of Nat. Hist., part ii. pi. 295. 



