120 CLASS AVES. 



This bird is much more rare in collections of natural his- 

 tory than the preceding one, and was equally so in the mena- 

 geries of Holland. The only living individual ever seen 

 there, according to M. Temminck, was in the menagerie of 

 M. Backer, near the Hague, where it lived many years. 



The Mitu is not so large as Craco Pauvi>; its total length 

 is but two feet five inches ; the tarsus is three inches eight 

 lines ; the crest of the upper mandible in this species rises 

 above the cranium, is formed in front in a trenchant ridge, 

 and widens at its base. On the forehead, at the insertion of 

 the corneous globe of the bill, is a tuft of straight feathers, 

 which the bird has the faculty of erecting. The bill is of a 

 brilliant red. 



The young have the bill less red, and the elevation of 

 the crest of the upper mandible is less great. This species 

 is a native of Brazil. 



We shall dismiss the family of Alector with a few remarks 

 on the species of Penelope, or the Yacous, or Guans, be- 

 ginning with Penelope Cristata. 



It is to be observed, that though the disposition of these 

 birds is not less mild and peaceable than that of the Hoccos^ 

 so many experiments have not yet been tried upon them, in 

 the way of domestication, as on the former. Though pos- 

 sessing the greatest possible relation in disposition and 

 manner, they have not as yet obtained the same regular and 

 continuous attention under the hands of man. Notwith- 

 standing this, it would be possible, by taking proper mea- 

 sures, to transplant these useful birds into Europe, and rural 

 economy would find in them, as in the last two genera, im- 

 portant resources, and new means of prosperity. 



The Pauxis and the Hoccos having been more frequently 

 introduced into Holland, more numerous experiments were 

 made to subject them to a domesticated state. These 

 attempts, as we have seen, were crowned with the most com- 

 plete success. Some species of Penelope have also been 



