34 The Crane-like Birds 



also some apparent affinities with the Storks, but all things considered, they 

 appear to find their closest relationship with the Cranes, Trumpeters, and Bus- 

 tards, though well entitled to be ranked as a distinct family. 



The larger of the two, which is known as the Crested Cariama (C. cristata), 

 has a total length of about thirty-two inches, and is yellowish gray, with numer- 

 ous narrow darker and lighter cross-bands, except on the abdomen, while the 

 wings and tail are blackish brown with broad white cross-bars. The forehead 

 is ornamented with a tuft of erect plumes three inches or more long, and there is 

 also a full pendent crest hanging down the hinder neck. The bill is bright red, 

 and the bare greenish blue skin surrounding the large dark yellow eyes gives it 

 a peculiarly animated expression. The legs and feet are reddish. It is a native 

 of the campos of the interior of Brazil, whence it extends into the open districts 

 of Paraguay and the adjoining parts of Argentina. It lives among the high 

 grasses of the campos, running away, it is said, in a stooping posture to avoid 

 discovery when approached, and taking to wing with extreme reluctance and 

 only when actually forced to do so. It is highly regarded by the inhabitants 

 as a destroyer of snakes, being protected by law, but it is said to feed principally 

 upon insects and caterpillars, though occasionally eating berries and other fleshy 

 fruits, and rarely, it would seem, snakes and other reptiles. It builds a nest in 

 low bushes and lays two roundish, spotted, Rail-like eggs. Its loud, screaming 

 cry is frequently heard. 



The other species, known as the Chunia or Burmeister's Cariama, has been 

 made the type of a distinct genus (Chunga burmeisteri*), and is found in northern 

 Argentina. It is smaller than the other, being only twenty-eight inches long, 

 darker colored, and with the frontal crest not more than an inch high. It fre- 

 quents forest or bushy districts, spending the day in running about in the bush 

 and roosting at night in high trees. Like the other species it has a loud, scream- 

 ing voice which may be heard for a long distance, though when approached 

 it becomes discreetly silent. The nest is placed in bushes, and the young birds 

 are frequently taken when half fledged and soon take kindly to captivity. 



THE BUSTARDS 



% 



(Family Otididce) 



The next family that we have to consider comprises the birds known as 

 Bustards and Floricans. Typically they are birds of large size and bulky form, 

 with rather long neck and lank, naked legs, and only three toes, all of which 

 are directed forward. They differ considerably from the typical Crane-like 

 birds and there has been much discussion regarding their proper systematic 

 adjustment, many of the older ornithologists, for example, regarding them as 

 allied to the Ostriches, a view which has little or nothing except mere external 

 appearance in its support. They are undoubtedly a much-specialized group 

 and appear to find their closest of kin among the Charadriiformes and the Grui- 



