308 BIRDS. 
drawn from some of the appendages of the head. In order, however, to 
avoid an excessive multiplication of beings, we shall associate certain ge- 
nera with them, whose feet are deficient in that membrane, some of 
which, the Pigeons, connect the Gallinacee with the Passerinz, while the 
others, the Hoazins, Buff., somewhat approximate to the Touracos. 
ALEctTor*, Merr. 
The Hoceos are large Gallinaceew of America, which resemble Turkeys, 
with a broad, rounded tai!, formed of large and. stiff quills. There is a 
singular conformation in the trachea of several of them. They live in 
the woods, feed on buds and fruit, perch and build on trees, are very 
social, and easily domesticated. Gmelin and Latham have divided them 
into Hoccos and Yacous, but upon very undetermined characters. We 
subdivide them in the following manner: 
Tue Hoccos, properly so called, Buff.— Mrrovs, of Brazil, &c.— 
Crax, Lin. 
Have a strong bill, its base surrounded with a skin, which is sometimes 
highly coloured, in which the nostrils are pierced; on the head is a tuft of 
long, narrow, erect feathers, curled at the tips. They are the size of 
Turkeys, and, like them, fly up into trees. They are bred by the Ame- 
ricans; and individuais are sometimes sent to Europe, so variously co- 
loured, that we are at a loss how to characterize their species. The most 
common, or 
Crax alector, L.; Mitou-Poranga, Marcer.; Buff. Ois. IT, pl. 
xiii; Vieill. Galer. 199. Black; the lower part of the belly white; 
cera of the bill, yellow. The trachea makes but one slight curve 
before it enters the thorax. Some of these birds, such as 
Crax globicera, L., Enl. 86; Edw. 295, 1, have a larger or 
smaller globular tubercle on the base of the bill. Among both of 
these species individuals are to be found in which the body is irre- 
gularly striped with white or fawn colour. Albin. Il. 32+. The 
whole upper part is sometimes fawn-colouredt. Those of Peru, 
Crax rubra, L., Enl. 125, are all of a vivid chestnut colour above, 
the head and neck being variegated with black and white||, 
Ovurax, Cuv. 
The Pauxi§ have a shorter and thicker bill, the membrane of its base 
as well as the greater part of their head being covered with a short and 
dense plumage resembling velvet. The most common species, 
* Alector is the Greek name of the cock. 
+ This appears to be the true Mexican Hoazin of Hernandez. 
+ Such is the female described by Azzara, Voy. IV. p. 169. From the accounts 
of other travellers, it appears that the females, also, are. fawn-coloured. ’ 
|| See also Crar fasciolata, Spix, LXII, a;—C. Blumenbachii, Id. LXIV. Add, 
Crax globulosa, 1d. LXV and LXVJ;—C. rubirostris, Id. LX VII. 
§ Pauxi is the name by which Hernandez designates them. Ouraz, the Athenian 
name for the Heath-Cock. 
