468 BUSTARDS, THICKNEES, AND. GRAWES. 
THE Kacu. 
Family RHINOCH@TIDZ. 
A remarkably grey-coloured bird from New Caledonia, known as the kagu 
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Rhinochetus jubatus), forms the type of a distinct family nearly allied to the 
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cranes, from which it is probably a specialised offshoot. Somewhat larger than a 
night-heron, the kagu is easily recognised by its moderately long beak, general 
grey colour, and the elongated pendent crest arising from the back of the head. 
While agreeing with the cranes in the form of the nasal apertures in the skull, and 
the absence of a notch in the breast-bone, the kagu differs by the presence of a 
powder-down patch on each side of the rump, and by the naked oil-gland; while 
it is unique among the group in having a bridged (desmognathous) palate. The 
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plumage of the under-parts is reddish brown, as is the tip of the tail; the primary 
quills are barred with black, white, and rufous; and the beak, legs, and feet are 
orange. The kagu is a nocturnal bird, feeding upon worms, molluses, and insects ; 
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but of its breeding-habits nothing is at present known. It is remarkable for the 
strange antics it performs; these being exhibited to a certain extent even in 
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captivity, and recalling those of the cranes. 
Madagascar An allied bird from Madagascar (Mesites variegatus), differs from 
EU the kagu, and resembles the other members of the group in having a 
slit (schizognathous) palate, and also in having the nostrils perforated instead of 
completely separated. It is further distinguished from that bird by the presence 
of a notch on each side of the lower border of the breast-bone, and by the more 
complex powder-down patches. The structure of the palate clearly shows that it 
is a less specialised bird than the kagu, from which it is separated as the type of 
a distinct family—the Mesitide. It may be mentioned that in the possession of 
powder-down patches these birds approach the herons; and it is in part owing to 
this feature that Mr. Beddard suggests a relationship between the two groups. 
THE SUN-BITTERN. 
Family HURYPYGIDZ. 
The last of these aberrant crane-like birds is the so-called sun-bittern (Hurypyga 
helias) of South America, which is structurally characterised by having a notch on 
each side of the breast-bone, a naked oil-gland, and powder-down patches, but shows 
no bare tracts on the sides of the neck. It is unique among the group in having 
helpless young. The sun-bittern is a comparatively small bird, measuring only 
16 inches in length, with a long pointed beak, and a somewhat thin and elongated 
neck, and a peculiar transversely striped coloration of white, brown, and_ black. 
The head and neck are black, with a brown streak above the eye, and another 
running backwards from the angle of the beak to the neck; the chin and throat 
are white; the feathers of the back. and scapular region are black striped with 
rusty red; the bastard-wing and wing-covers are black and white; the feathers of 
the neck barred with brown and black; those of the under-parts yellowish or 
