GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 215 



with two well-defined tooth-like appendages. The tarsi are high, the toes long, armed with sharply- 

 pointed hooked claws, and protected by large horny scales. The plunnage, which is alike in the two 

 sexes, is prolonged into a crest on the head ; the eye is surrounded by a broad, brightly-coloured 

 skin. This species is yellowish brown on the nape, back, wings, and tail ; the crown of the head is 

 brown, and a cheek-stripe that extends to the nape is reddish yellow, dotted with a lighter shade : 

 the feathers on the throat and upper portion of the back are spotted with brown and black, and 

 striped with yellow ; those on the shoulders have a large black triangular patch on the inner web. 

 The feathers of the wing-covers have a pale, yellow, heart-shaped spot at their tip, whilst the lower 

 shoulder-feathers and exterior secondaries are edged with reddish yellow on the inner web, and 

 streaked with black, the centre part of each being also varied with reddish grey and brown. The 

 brown primary quills have the outer web dotted with white, and the shaft grey ; the secondaries are 

 marked with reddish yellow on the outer web. All the feathers on the hinder parts of the body and 

 tail are of mottled reddish yellow in the centre, with a pale yellow border, and a black spot at the tip ; 

 those on the under side are slate-grey, edged with brown. The eye is brown, the bare ring that 

 surrounds it deep flesh-red, the beak black, and the foot greyish red. The female is of paler hue, and 

 the young show more reddish brown in their plumage than the adult male. The length of the body is 

 sixteen inches and a half, the wing measures three inches and a half, and the tail three inches. 



This bird is found in suitable localities in most parts of Brazil, from the Rio de !a Plata to 

 the Amazon. We are indebted to the Prince of Wied for what we know of its life and habits. 



"This species," says the prince, "is called 'Capueira' by the Brazilians. Its habits and mode 

 of life are very similar to those of the Hazel Grouse, or Gelinotte {Boiiasia sylvestris). It never 

 frequents the open country, but confines itself entirely to the thick woods. In the early part of the 

 year the ' Capueira ' lives in pairs, and after the breeding season the families remain in coveys of from 

 ten to sixteen or more in number. These birds run very quickly, and procure their food among 

 the dry leaves on the ground in the midst of the extensive woods. The stomachs of such as I 

 examined contained fruits, berries, insects, small stones, and a little sand. The part of the country 

 in which I met with them is the eastern portion of Southern Brazil, from Rio de Janeiro to 13° 

 south latitude ; by Spix they appear to have been found still farther north. In the vast forests 

 bordering the rivers Mucuri, Alcoba^a, Belmonte, and Ilheo they were very common, and we 

 frequently killed them for the sake of their flesh, which is excellent. Their loud and remarkable voice 

 is heard only in the forests, where it reverberates to a great distance. Azara states that the cry is 

 uttered by both sexes, but I believe it is emitted by the male bird only. Like the Domestic Cock in 

 Europe, it frequently aroused us at the break of day, bidding us, as it were, continue our researches 

 among the grand but almost impenetrable forests of that magnificent country. They commenced 

 calling before daybreak, thus affording us ample time for breakfasting, and enabling us to start by the 

 dawn of the young day." 



Azara tells us that the voice of the Capueira consists of two notes ; but on this point he is 

 incorrect, as it comprises three or four notes, wliich are frequently and very quickly repeated. 

 Morning and evening the Capueiras perch on a branch in a line, very near to each other, and at this 

 time the male birds frequently give utterance to their cr)', which Azara states to resemble the word 

 " uru," but it appeared to me very different. The nest found by me in the woods near the fine lake 

 called Lagoa d'Arara (Macaw Lake) was placed on the ground, and contained from ten to fifteen pure 

 white eggs, which coincides with Sonnini's account ; while Azara's assertion that they are of a violet- 

 blue is doubtless a mistake, which may probably have arisen, as M. Temminck suggests, from his 

 having mistaken the eggs of a Tinamou for those of a Capueira. Some travellers have asserted that 

 they have found the nests of this bird on trees, and that they were placed in such situations in order 



