240 CUEASSOWS AT HOME. [CHAP. i. 



variety, the crested, of which we had found the nest 

 near Serpa. But other species were common about the 

 forests, and these, with others still brought from the 

 upper country, were frequently seen domesticated [read 

 ' tamed ']. They are all familiar birds, and readily allow 

 themselves to be caressed. At night they often come 

 into the house to roost, seeming to like the company of 

 the parrots and other birds. They might easily be 

 bred(?) when thus domesticated [tamed], but the facility 

 with which their nests are found renders this no object 

 at Barm. They feed upon seeds and fruits, and are 

 considered superior, for the table, to any game of the 

 country." * 



He elsewhere relates : 



" As we drew up by the bank for breakfast, a crested 

 Curassow or Mutun, Crax alector, flew from the top of 

 a low tree near us, and one of the Indians darted up for 

 the nest. There were two eggs, and tying them in his 

 handkerchief, he brought them down in his teeth. 

 These eggs were much larger than a Turkey's egg, white 

 and granulated all over. The crested Curassow is a 

 bird about the size of a small Turkey. The general 

 plumage is black, the belly only being white, and 

 upon its head is a crest of curled feathers. This species 

 'has a yellow bill. It is called the Royal Mutun by the 

 Brazilians, and in the vicinity of the river Negro is not 

 uncommon. With several other varieties of its family 

 it is frequently seen (in unprecise language) domesti- 

 cated, and is a graceful and singularly familiar bird in 

 its habits. According to some authors this bird lays 

 numerous eggs, but each of the three nests which we 



* Edwards' Voyage up the Amazon, p. 144. 



