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THE BALD FIU'IT CROW. 



The Bare-necked Fritt Crow inhabits Brazil and Guiana, and is far from uncommon 

 in those countries. It is not a very large bird, hardly equalling the common jackdaw in size, 

 but is worthy of notice <>n accounl of the peculiarity from which it derives its popular name. 

 Instead of being covered with the usual plumage, the upper part of the head, the back of the 

 neck, and the throat are clothed with very minute and closely-set feathers of a very deep 

 black, so that tic bird looks as if the neck had been denuded of feathers, and covered with a 

 piece of neatly-sewn black velvet. < m t he sides of the neck even this slight clothing is absent, 

 the plumage being represented merely by a few scanty feathers of down. The general color of 

 the feathers is black iu the male, and brownish-gray in the female, excepting the wing-coverts 

 and the edges of the central quill feathers, which are slaty-gray. The Bare-necked Fruit Crow 

 is not at all an elegant bird in its form, being heavily made and thick-set. 



There are several other members of this curious group, such as the Bald Fruit Crow, 

 called also the Capfchin Bald Head, on account of the peculiarity which has earned for it 

 the popular titles by which it is known. In allusion to the monk-like aspect of the head, the 

 Creoles of Cayenne call it " Oiseau mon Pere." 



This species is larger than the preceding, being quite equal to the common Carrion Crow in 

 size, and being altogether of a thicker and larger make. It is plentiful in Guinea. The head 

 of tlie Bald Fruit Crow is very large and heavily made, and the whole front of the bird is 

 totally bare, like that of the leatherhead, already described and figured. Many naturalists 



1 



BALD FRUIT CROW.—GymTiocep/uUus caXvw. 



think that while the Bald Fruit Crow is still young, its head is clothed with feathers, together 

 with the remainder of the body, and that, like the rook of Europe, it loses the feathers when 

 it attains maturity. There has been considerable argument on the subject, but it seems to 

 have been tolerably well settled that the young bird is feathered and the old bird bare. 



This bird, together with the other Fruit Crows, makes the greater part of its meals on 

 berries, fruits, and other vegetable substances ; bin will often vary its diet by an admixture 

 of insects, snails, and many similar creatures. It is seldom seen upon the ground, finding its 

 food among the branches, and confining itself almost exclusively to their shelter. The generic 

 names Gymnoderus and Gymnocephalus, which have been appropriately given to these birds, 

 are of Greek origin, and signify, the former •• naked-necked," and the latter "'naked -headed." 



