Crj^Assou's, TKAGor.i.vs, &c. 577 



lamed, and ascociates quite freely in the yard with other poultry. The Wattled Curassow is a 

 much smaller bird. It inhabits the eastern parts of Brazil, and is easily distinguished by the cere 

 at the base of the bill being a bright red. The Galeated Curassow is known at once by the absence 

 of the feathered crest, and the presence instead of a peculiar-looking bony casque or helmet, which is 

 of a livid slate-colour, the beak being bright red. The plumage of this Curassow is glossy black, 

 except a little white on the belly and tip of the tail, and the legs are red, with yellow claws. Other 

 varieties, such as that called Yarrcll's Curassow, the Albert Curassow, &c., are also to be found in 

 the Gardens ; but it is doubtful if some at least of the so-called varieties are not hybrids. One of 

 these has the bony casque of a beautiful yellow colour. 



The Curassows are described by Dr. Sclater as " shy breeders, and certainly not adapted for 

 acclimatisation ;" but the space and accommodation allotted them at the Gardens are by no means 

 adapted to fairly test this question, or to their natural habits ; a neat, bare, sanded floor being 

 anything but what is required. On this subject we would refer to our previous remarks, and 

 repeat that such collections do not afford the needed facilities. Were the Curassows accommodated 

 and studied to the same extent as the water-fowl, the result would no doubt be different. The 

 problem /ims in point of fact been solved ; for not only, as we have seen, are these beautiful birds 

 both tamed and reared freely in their native countries, but Mr. Arneschoff most fully succeeded in 

 domesticating them at his menagerie in Holland. Temminck tells us that the task was really and 

 thoroughly done, and that the birds were then found as prolific as any domestic poultry, when the 

 whole establishment and its precious fruits were lost and dispersed in the disorders caused by the 

 wars which followed in the train of the Revolution. It is therefore quite certain that the object can 

 be accomplished, and the Curassow is indeed far more naturally tame than either the Guinea Fowl 

 or the Turkey, both of which have quite lately been reclaimed by man. 



In undertaking a task so desirable, the habits of the birds should be remembered, and some 

 amount of shrubs and trees, as well as grass, provided for them, and care be taken that while 

 nesting they are as much as possible undisturbed. By degrees there is little doubt they might 

 be habituated to open fields, as is the case with the Turkey ; which in-a wild state is quite as much 

 a forest bird as the Curassow, but has now become quite independent of the woods. 



THE GUANS {Pcnclopcc) are evidently closely allied to the Curassows, being found in the 

 same localities and distinguished by the same habits. They are somewhat more slender in body, 

 and the tail is longer in proportion. Among the Indians they are as frequently tamed as the 

 Curassows, and constantly become so familiar as to allow themselves to be taken and caressed in 

 the hand. One variety at least — the Crested Guan — was domesticated in Holland, and most of our 

 remarks upon Curassows will also apply to this race of birds ; the Guans appear, however, some- 

 what more arboreal in their habitsr than the preceding family, and not seldom make their nests in 

 the branches of trees. This habit is not, however, universal, though it undoubtedly interposes 

 somewhat greater obstacles to domestication than would be found with the Curassows. 



THE TRAGOPANS, or Horned Pheasants, and the beautifully resplendent Monaul or 

 Impeyan Pheasant, also appear to be adapted for domestication. They are reported to be readily 

 tamed in the East, and to breed in captivity with little difficulty. Most of the pheasants, by their 

 wild habits, small bodies, powerful wings, and long tails, are obviously ill-fitted for the poultry-yard ; 

 but both of the genera we have named, which have bodies as large as those of fowls, short tails, and 

 small wings, might probably be domesticated with little difficulty, -while their extremely beautiful 

 plumage would render them distinguished ornaments of the yard. Of one variety of the Tragopans, 

 73 



