276 cassell's book of birds. 



on tlie mngs and tail. Dusky hues predominate in the coloration of the plumage. These fine birds 

 inhabit the forests of South America, and build their nests in trees. Like the rest of the order, they 

 subsist upon worms, insects, fruits, and the seeds of plants. The above definition includes two 

 distinct families — the Graces or True Citrassgws, and the PENELOPiE or Guans. 



The TRUE CURASSOWS, or HOCCOS (Craves), are powerftilly-framed birds, possessing a 

 high, much-curved beak, with compressed sides, and furnished ™th a cere and excrescences at its 

 base. During the period of incubation the latter swell to a considerable size, and in one species 

 present the appearance of a horn placed in the centre of the brow, and in another assume the 

 appearance of a large pear-shaped excrescence. The strong foot is moderately high, and the toes 

 rather long, the wing short, with its seventh and eighth quills longer than the rest, and the rounded 

 tail of medium size. The plumage upon the brow and nape usually forms a comb-like crest composed 

 of slender, stiff feathers, which incline backwards at their roots, but project forwards at their curved 

 tips. The feathers on the cheeks, upper throat, and hinder parts are soft and downy, and those 

 on the lower neck and rump coarse and harsh ; the region of the eye is bare, and the cheeks covered 

 with small hair-like feathers. 



The members of this family occupy the forests of tropical America, where -they frequent the 

 trees, and but rarely descend upon the ground, over the surface of which, however, they can run with 

 great rapidity ; their flight is slow, horizontal, and never long sustained, and their mode of disporting 

 themselves when upon the branches of trees, easy though slow. During the breeding season they are 

 met with in pairs, and at other times in small parties of some three or four birds. In all the various 

 species the voice is peculiar, but very different in tone, and is heard most frequently during the period 

 of incubation, or in the early morning, when they first awake from sleep. The Indians maintain, 

 and Schomburghk has corroborated the statement, that one species, the Urax totnentosa, always utters 

 its cry at the moment that the beautiful constellation called the Southern Gross attains its greatest 

 altitude. In their wild state the Hoccos subsist principally on fruit and berries of various kinds, and 

 occasionally consume insects, worms, and portions of certain plants ; to the strong odour of some 

 of the latter is probably attributable a most unpleasant flavour occasionally observable in their flesh. 

 We are but litde acquainted with the incubation of these birds, except that they build a flat nest made 

 of twigs interlaced and lined with leaves, and placed upon the branches at no great distance from the 

 ground. Bates and Schomburghk are of opinion that the large white eggs are but two in number ; 

 Gray, on the contrary, states that the female lays as many as five or six. In their native forests the 

 Hoccos exhibit no fear of man, and if attacked, seem perfecUy unconscious of danger, even should 

 they see their companions fall dead around them. When living in the vicinity of human habitations, 

 on the contrary, they become extremely timid, and if approached, at once take wing. The Indians 

 not only eat the flesh of these birds, but employ their strong quills and tail-feathers as fans ; the small 

 feathers are also used in various kinds of ornamental work. In different parts of America Gurassows 

 have long been domesticated, and at one rime were, it is said, thoroughly acclimatised in Holland by 

 M. Armschoff, proving in his menagerie as prolific as any of our barn-door poultry. 



THE COMMON OR CRESTED CURASSOW. 



The GoMMON or Grested Gurassow {Crax alector) is nearly as large as a Turkey, being about 



thirty-six inches long. Its plumage is of a glossy black, and gleams with green and purple when 



exposed to the rays of the sun ; the belly is white. The stout black beak is furnished with a large 



yellow cere at the base of both mandibles, and the eye is surrounded by a bare skin. The female 



