24 S AVES. 



of the preceding group, which is traceable in their whole anatomy ; and are nearly allied to certain 

 Lapwings, which we behave they also resemble in the number and character of their eggs.] 



America produces some species which have a flat naked membrane at the base of the bill, which is reflected over 

 part of the forehead. As 



The Common Jacana (P. jacana, Lin.).— Black, with a rufous mantle ; the primary wingf-coverts green ; and 

 fleshy wattles under the beak. It is the commonest of those inhabiting the hot cUmates of /.merica, and has very- 

 sharp spurs. 



Some of the same kind are found in Asia, as 



The Bronzed Jacana {P. <snea). The body black, changing to blue and \dolet, a bronzed-green mantle, blood- 

 red croup and tail, the anterior wing-feathers green, and a white streak behind the eye. Its spurs are smaU and 

 blunt. 



Others have been discovered in the east in which this membrane does not exist, and which are othenvise 

 remarkable for some singular differences in the proportions of their quill-feathers. As 



The Long-tailed Jacana (P. sitiensis). — Brown, with the head, throat, fore-neck, and ising-coverts, white, the 

 hind-neck adorned with silky feathers of a golden-yellow colour, and a small pedicillated appendage to the tips of 

 some of the quill feathers. 



There is one also in the east which is crested, and has no spurs to the wings, (the P. gallinacea, Tem.). 



The Screamer {Palamedea, Lin.) — 

 Resembles the Jacanas, but on a very large scale, by the two stout spurs which it bears on each wing, 

 and by its long toes and strong claws, more particularly that on the hind-toe, which is long and 

 straight as in the Larks ; but its beak, which is slightly cleft, is neither much compressed nor bulging, 

 and its upper mandible is a little arcuated. The legs are reticulated. 



TTie species known, the Homed Screamer (P. cornuta), termed in Brazil Anhima, and Camouche in Cayenne, is 

 larger than a Goose, and blackish, with a rufous spot on the shoulder, the top of its head bearing a singular orna- 

 ment, consisting of a long and slender, moveable, homy stem. Its toes have no palmation. This bird inhabits 

 the inundated grounds of South America, and its very- loud voice is heard afar ofl". It is strictly monogamous : is 

 said to pursue reptiles ; but although its stomach is only slightly muscular, it scarcely feeds on anything but 

 aquatic herbage. [The trachea of this bird has an abrupt bony box or enlargement about the middle, somewhat 

 analogous to that of the male Velvet Pochard (Oidemia fusca)]. 



A distinct genus has been made of 



The Chauxa {Opistohphus, Vieillot), — 

 Which has no horn on the vertex, but the occiput is adorned with a circle of erectible feathers. The 

 head and upper part of the neck are only covered with down, and it has a black collar. A singular 

 phenomenon is exhibited by the circumstance of its skin, even that covering its legs, being inflated by 

 the interposition of air between it and the muscles, so that it crackles under the finger. 



It is the Parra chavaria, Lin. The rest of its plumage is lead-coloiu-ed and blackish, with a white spot at the 

 bend of the wing, and another at the base of some of the large primaries. There is a tolerably well-marked palma- 

 ture between its external toes. It feeds principally on aquatic herbage ; and the Indians of Carthagena rear some 

 among their flocks of Geese and Poultry, as they deem it very courageous, and capable of repulsing even a 

 Vulture. 



Near to the Screamers we think should be placed, although they have scarcely any naked space 

 above the tarsal joint, 



The Megapodes {Megapodius, Lesson), — 

 A genus recently discovered in New Guinea, with a vaulted beak, a Uttle compressed, the membranous 

 nostrils occupying about half its length, and very stout and elevated tarsi, which are scutellated, the 

 toes (including the hind one) being long, and terminated by claws which are rather flat. They have 

 a short tail, a naked space round the eye, and there is a small tubercle on the carpus, the first and 

 slight vestige of the spur of the Screamer. The membrane between their external toes is very shght, 

 while that of the inner is rather larger. They lay disproportionately large eggs for their size. 



One species is crested nearly as in the Chauna (.1/. Duperreyi, Lesson) : two others have no crest ; and a fourth 

 has scarcely any tail. 



In the tribe wherein the wings are unarmed, Linnaeus comprises, under the genus FuHca, 

 all such as have the bill continued backward into a sort of shield, that covers the forehead ; and 

 those which do not possess this character he arranges in the genus Rallus. 



