506 CLASS AVES. 



made several interesting observations on this bird, which he 

 communicated to Dr. Latham. " After saying that an adult 

 will often measure full seven feet, he adds, that the head 

 covered with white down, thinly dispersed, appears not unlike 

 a grey-headed man. Also, that they are met with in companies ; 

 and when seen at a distance, near the mouths of rivers, coming 

 towards an observer, which they often do with their wings 

 extended, may well be taken for canoes upon the surface of 

 a smooth sea — when on the sand-banks, for men and women 

 picking up shell-fish or other things on the beach. One of 

 these, a young bird about five feet high, was brought up 

 tame, and presented to the chief of the Bananas, where Mr. 

 Smeathman lived ; and being accustomed to be fed in the 

 great hall, soon became familiar, duly attending that place at 

 dinner time, placing itself behind its master's chair frequently 

 before the guests entered. The servants were obliged to 

 watch narrowly, and to defend the provisions with switches ; 

 but, notwithstanding, it would frequently seize something or 

 other, and once purloined a whole boiled fowl, which it swal- 

 lowed in an instant. Its courage is not equal to its voracity, 

 for a child of eight or ten years old soon puts it to flight 

 with a switch, though at first it seems to stand on its defence, 

 by threatening, with its enormous bill widely extended, and 

 roaring with a loud voice like a bear or tiger. It is an 

 enemy to small quadrupeds, as well as birds and reptiles, and 

 slyly destroys fowls or chickens, though it dares not attack a 

 hen openly with her young. Every thing is swallowed 

 whole ; and so accommodating is its throat, that not only an 

 animal as big as a cat is gulped down, but a shin of beef 

 broken asunder serves it but for two morsels. It is known to 

 swallow a leg of mutton of five or six pounds, a hare, a 

 small fox, &c. After a time the bones are rejected from the 

 stomach, which seems to be voluntary, for it has been known 

 that an ounce or two of emetic tartar given to one of these birds 

 produced no effect."— (Lath. Gen. Hist. Vol. IX. pp. 40-41.) 



