68 Notes on Aviculture in Georgetown, Demerera.


common Barbary Dove {Turtur risorius), the Talpacoti Ground-

Dove ( Chamcepelia talpacoti ), the Dwarf Ground-Dove (C. griseola)

and the Red Under-winged Dove (. Leptoptila griseola') are all

occasionally to be seen.


The Tinamous or “maams ” are more sought after for

culinary, than avicultural, purposes ; and the natives were much

interested to learn of their polyatidrous habits—discovered first,.

I believe, by our worthy Editor. Their eggs have been brought

to me for sale on two or three occasions. The Brown Tinamou

(' Crypturus cinereus ) is the only species I saw in confinement; it

used to utter its shrill cry about four o’clock in the morning.


Coming next to the Cracidae, the following must be men¬

tioned : the Crested Curasow or “ powis” ( Crax elector ) ; the

Marail Guan or “ marudi ” (. Penelope mar ail ); the Piping Guau

or “ white-headed marudi ” (Pipilo cumanensis') ; and the Little

Guau ( Ortalis motniot) or “ hanaqua”—so-called from its cry

which consists of the word “lian-a-qua,” repeated several times

in a loud voice. All the birds of this family met with in confine¬

ment are hand-reared by the aborigines, and are consequently

very tame. A Little Guan which was given to me was so tame

that it was allowed complete liberty ; it fed with the poultry, and

roosted at night overhead in the trees. It resented the intrusion

of strange fowls, and would fight fiercely with cocks much bigger

than itself; but they were seldom able to strike a blow, because

their smaller and more agile adversary would fly high in the air

above their heads. This bird had a bad habit of sneaking into

the house and eating condensed milk, butter, fruit, or anything

tasty; although it shared in the fowls’ mhm. It had full use of

its wings, and would sometimes be absent for two or three days

at a time.


A tame Trumpeter Bird (Psophia crepitans ) can sometimes

be seen walking in its stately fashion along a quiet street. That

extraordinary bird, the Hoatzin, I was unable to obtain ; although

it is common in the adjoining county of Berbice. Its local name

is the “Cange Pheasant.”


The Martinique Gallinule ( Porphyriola martinica) and the

Spur-wing ( Jacana jacana ) were both brought to me for sale :

they throve on a diet of soaked paddy rice and shrimps.



