PARRA Africana. 
African Jacana. 
Ee 
Family Rallide. 
GENERIC CHARACTER.—Sce Lesson Man. 2. p. 285. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 
Above deep cinnamon; crown of the head naked; throat white ; 
breast fulvous; neck and quills black; spur on the wing 
obsolete. 
Parra Africana. Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. 764. 
African Jacana. Lath. Gen, Syn. 5. p.246. Gen. Hist. 9. p. 393. 
In Mus. Par. Nostro. 
ee 
Tue Jacanas are wading birds, somewhat analagous, both 
in structure and habits, to the European water-hen ; but in 
their native haunts, from not being disturbed, they are less 
shy. The number of these birds on the lakes of Brazil, the 
elegance of their movements, and their fearlessness of man, 
excite an interest in the traveller who journeys through 
regions, ornamented alone by Nature. 
Most of the Jacanas inhabit South America—a few occur 
in India; and this, as its name implies, is found in Africa. 
The typical species have the wings armed with a strong 
and very acute bony spur; but in P. Africana, this is so 
small, as not to be perceived when the wing is closed.— 
Bruce mentions this bird by the name of Meylie, as in- 
habiting Abyssinia; and Mr. Salt found it at Mozambique. 
Our specimen was received from Western Africa, by Mr. 
Ward, Animal Preserver, Broad Street, Golden Square. 
The peculiar structure of the feet of these birds is highly 
singular, but their particular use has not, we believe, been 
explained. The Jacanas are very light birds; and their 
long toes, spreading over a wide surface, enable them to 
walk on the floating leaves of aquatic plants, with as much 
facility as if they were on land. In such situations their 
appearance is really delusive ; for their pressure being suf- 
ficient to sink the supporting leaf just below the surface, 
the birds actually appear to walk upon the water. 
Total length, ab. 104; bill, 14%; wings, 53%;: tarsi, 24253 
hind toe and claw, 55. 
