2ho BIRDS. 
ef 
The Fast produces others, which are tufted, and in which the spur on 
the wing is deticient, P. gallinacea, Tem. 464. 
PALAMEDEA, Lin. 
The Kamichi represent, in many respects, the Jacanas, but on a very 
large scale, in the two strong spurs of each of their wings, in their long 
tocs and strong nails, that of the thumb in particular, which is long and 
straight as in the Larks; but their bill, whose aperture is small, is but 
slightly compressed, and is not inflated; the upper mandible, also, is 
somewhat arcuated. Their legs are reticulated. The species known, 
P. cornuta, L., Enl. 451; Vieill. Gal. 261; Anhima in Brazil; 
Camouche at Cayenne, &c., is larger than the Goose, blackish, with 
a red spot on the shoulder, and a singular appendage on the top of 
the head, consisting of a long, slender, mobile and horny stem. 
There are no membranes between the toes. This bird is found in 
the inundated places of South America, and has a very loud cry. 
They live in pairs with great fidelity. It has been said that it hunts 
reptiles, but though its stomach is but slightly muscular, it rarely 
feeds on any thing but aquatic plants and seeds*. 
A distinct genus has been made of another, 
Cuaunat, Jilig. 
Parra chavaria, L.; Chaia of Paraguay, Azzar.; Col. 219; 
Vieill. Gal. 267, which has no horn on the vertex, and whose occi- 
put is ornamented with a circle of erectile feathers. The head and 
upper part of the neck are only covered with down, and it has a 
black collar. The rest of its plumage is lead-coloured, and black- 
ish with a white spot on the tip of the wing, and a second over 
the base of some of the large quills. The external toes are con- 
siderably palmated. It chiefly feeds on aquatic plants, and the 
Indians of Carthagena always keep some of them among their 
geese and chickens, as it is sufficiently courageous, according to 
them, to repulse even the Vulture. A singular circumstance at- 
tending this bird is, that air is every where interposed between 
the skin and muscles, even on the legs, in such a quantity as 
causes it to crackle under the finger. 
Although there is scarcely any part of the leg naked in $ 
MerGAPODIUS, 
We still think it should be placed near Palamedea. It is a genus lately 
discovered in New Guinea, in which the bill is arched and slightly com- 
pressed, the membranous nostrils occupying about the one half; the legs 
are strong, high, and scutellated; the thumb and toes long, and termi- 
nated by large nails somewhat flattened; the tail is short, the cireumfe- 
rence of the eye partly naked, and there is a small tubercle on the carpus, 
Bajon., Mem. sur Cayenne, IT, 284. 
Vieillot has changed this name into OristoLopuus. 
Theve is scarcely any part of the leg naked in the Radlus Crew. 
Pee 
