328 CLASS AVES. * 



The head and neck are covered with down only, 

 and round the eye is naked. They live in the woods 

 on grains and fruits. 



P Sophia Crepitans i L. Enl. I69. The Grus Pso- 

 phia of Pallas, Spec. iv. t. 1. 



Is the commonest species of South America, and is 

 so named from its faculty of making a hollow and 

 deep noise, which at first seems to proceed from the 

 anus ; it is as big as a capon. The plumage is 

 blackish, with bright violet reflexions on the breast, 

 and the mantle is ash, mixed with fulvous towards 

 the top. This bird is of a grateful disposition, at- 

 taches itself in the manner of a dog, and can be 

 so far tamed it is said as to conduct other birds of 

 the poultry-yard. It flies badly, but runs with 

 rapidity. It constructs its nest on the ground at 

 the foot of a tree. It is good eating. 



It is called Agami at Cayenne, according to Bar- 

 rere ; Caracara in the Antilles, according to Dutertre. 

 As the name Trumpet-bird is also given in Africa to 

 a Hornbill, Fermin (Descript. de Surinam) ridicu- 

 lously enough transfers to the Agami the character 

 of two bills, one on another. The Agami has been 

 long confounded with the Macucagua of Marc- 

 grave, which is a Tinamus. Psophia is a name coined 

 by Barrere, from ^].o?>ci;, to make a noise. 



Psophia Viridis, Spix. 8. 

 Above, green ; hciieatli, black ; coverts and secou- 



