CHAP. n.J PAINSTAKING. 267 



dark about them as to their identity with those (Pene- 

 lope cristata) mentioned in Bennett's work on the 

 Gardens. These sent have no crest, and the spots of 

 black and white, instead of being confined to the neck 

 and breast, spread over the wing coverts ; the naked red 

 skin under the neck, although present, does not form 

 so prominent a feature as I expected. There is a white 

 line, too, over each eye. Now, are these in immature 

 plumage? [They were, like our own, the Penelope 

 superciliaris, or Eye-browed Guan of Temminck, and 

 exactly resembling larger, and we believe older, spe- 

 cimens of the same species which we have -seen at the 

 Regent's Park Gardens and in Lord Derby's mena- 

 gerie.] The birds are not so large as I expected, but 

 rather elegant; they are not in very good condition, but 

 seem healthy. I have applied a little warm soap and 

 water, which has done a deal of good. The male is the 

 most confiding, the lady rather more skittish. I had 

 hoped to see them heavier, and not so inclined to use 

 their wings. I like their usual note. They will be 

 kept in an airy aviary for the present, till I see what 

 they are made of. It is a good plan, when the tail 

 feathers are broken off, as many of my birds' are, to 

 extract the stumps gently, and let them grow up afresh; 

 they otherwise remain a long time. * * 



"It is a pity the Guan does not produce more eggs 

 (from two to five); but may they not become more pro- 

 lific by domestication? [the old fallacious hope.] As 

 in the Turkey, the red part of the throat becomes more 

 visible when eating or erected. They are thriving, and 

 being partially sheltered in bad weather, and with a 

 little care this first winter, will become thoroughly 

 acclimatized by the breeding time. [Again the ever- 



