GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 



281 



and rounded feathers, is principally of an olive-brown on the upper portion of the body, with a 

 somewhat redder shade on the crown of the head, and white edges to the feathers on the breast and 

 fore part of the throat ; the three outer tail-feathers are tipped with brownish red. The eye is deep 

 brovvn, and the bare patch that surrounds it blueish black ; the unfeathered portions of the throat are 

 flesh-red ; the beak light red ; and foot pale flesh-red. The female differs but slightly from her mate ; 



THE HOACTZIN, OR STINK BIRD {Opisthocomus cristatus). 



the young exhibit much paler tints than the parent birds. This species is twenty inches and a half 

 long, and twenty-three inches and a quarter broad ; the wing measures seven and the tail nine inches. 

 The Aracuan is an inhabitant of Central Brazil, where it is principally met mth in the forests 

 of Bahia. 



THE HOACTZIN, OR STINK BIRD. 



The HoACTZiN, or Stink Bird {Opisthocomus cristatus), the only representative of the tribe to 



which it belongs, has a slender body, moderately long neck, and wings that extend to about tlie 



centre of the tail, which is composed of ten long, broad feathers, graduated at its sides and rounded at 



the extremity. The bill, which resembles both that of the Graces and of the Pmielcpc?, curves o\er 



VOL. III. — 115 



