



THE GUAN. 



Penelope cristata. Gmel. 



Of the same family with the Curassows, and closely 

 allied to those birds both in structure and general 

 appearance, the present group is nevertheless distin- 

 guished by several remarkable peculiarities. The bill 

 is much shallower, its transverse diameter exceeding 

 its depth, somewhat elongated, and naked at the base ; 

 the nostrils are placed about the middle of the bill, and 

 are not at all concealed by the advancement of the 

 feathers of the head as in the genus Ourax ; a naked 

 space surrounds the eyes ; the skin of the throat is 

 destitute of feathers, and capable of considerable dis- 

 tension ; the claws are strong, curved, and pointed ; and 

 the hinder toe is articulated on the same level with the 

 anterior ones, and consequently applies its whole length 

 to the surface of the ground. As in the other genera 



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