130 



ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



The Rasor-billed Curassow is an unquestionable 

 species of M. Cuvier's genus Ourax, the characters of 

 which are given at page 65. Its most distinctive cha- 

 racter consists in the form of the horny process that 

 surmounts its bill, which rises above the level of the 

 head, is flattened on the sides, runs anteriorly into a 

 sharp edge, spreads out at the base where it is conti- 

 nuous with the bill, and is like it of a bright red. The 

 whole of the upper parts, the fore part of the neck, the 

 breast, and the legs, are black with a violet or purple 



gloss. 



The tail is of the same colour for the greater 



part of its length, but terminates in a white band ; and 

 the extreme part of the belly is of a chestnut brown. 

 Above the base of the bill, which is covered with short 

 velvety feathers concealing the nostrils, is a tuft of 

 straight feathers ; the iris is dusky, and the naked legs 

 are reddish brown. In the young bird the horny pro- 

 cess of the bill is smaller, and less intensely red. 



It has not yet been attempted to naturalize the pre- 

 sent species in this quarter of the globe ; but its flesh, 

 according to Marcgrave, in whatever mode prepared, 

 but especially when roasted, yields to that of no bird, 

 either of Europe or America. He adds that it is 

 domesticated and cultivated by the gentry of Brazil, 

 on account both of its dignity and elegance. 



