132 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



of the family, the bill is convex above and curved at 

 the point ; the legs are of moderate length and without 

 spurs ; the wings short, with the sixth quill-feather 

 longest; and the tail fiat, rounded at the extremity, 

 and formed of twelve broad feathers. 



M. Spix has latterly added very considerably to the 

 difficulties that previously existed in distinguishing the 

 species of this interesting group, by the publication, in 

 his Brazilian Birds, of a series of figures representing 

 apparently very slight modifications of the common 

 form, but to each of which he has affixed a peculiar 

 specific name. We believe that most of them will be 

 found on further examination to be referable to the 

 present species, which, from its long domestication in 

 the poultry yards of South America, must necessarily 

 be subject to very extensive variations. It is the largest 

 bird of the genus that has yet been discovered, mea- 

 suring when fully grown about thirty inches in total 

 length, of which the tail constitutes thirteen or fourteen. 

 The whole upper surface of the body is of a dusky 

 black or bronze colour with a gloss of green, which 

 becomes olive in certain positicms with regard to light. 

 The feathers of the back of the head are long, and 

 form a thickly tufted crest, capable of being raised or 

 depressed at pleasure. A black stripe passes back- 

 wards from the under part of the bill, and encircles the 

 ear. The fore part of the neck and breast are spotted 

 with white, each of the feathers being surrounded by a 

 white border ; as is also the case on the belly and legs, 

 which have somewhat of a reddish tinge. The latter 

 colour also prevails on the lower part of the back and 

 under tail-coverts. The naked cheeks, extending from 

 the bill to the eyes, are of a purplish violet ; the iris 

 reddish brown ; the bill blackish ; and the legs red. 

 From the naked part of the throat, which is of a bright 



