GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 2S3 



slender and pointed primaries longer than the rest ; the tail is composed of ten or hvelve narrow 



feathers, so short as to be concealed by the long tail-covers, or in some instances they are entirely 



■wanting. The sexes are alike both in their coloration and general appearance. These birds inhabit 



a large portion of South America, and frequent the most various situations, open plains, dense 



thickets, or mountain regions ; each have their appointed occupants : whilst some are met with 



exclusively at an altitude of more than 2,000 feet about the level of the sea. Their flight is heavy, 



and is but seldom resorted to as a means of escape ; upon the ground they run with great rapiditv, 



somewhat after the manner of a Quail, and if disturbed, at once crouch down or conceal themselves 



amongst the long grass. Such species as frequent forests pass the night upon the lower branches of 



tr.ees. Their voice consists of a series of deep and high piping notes, uttered by some during the day, 



and by others only when seeking their roosting-place for the night or early in the morning. The 



intelligence of the Crypturidce is very limited, and if alarmed they appear to become almost stupefied. 



Of one species Mr. Darwin tells us that a man on horseback, by riding round and round so as to 



approach nearer each time, may knock as many on the head as he pleases. The more common 



method is to catch them with a running noose or little lasso, made of an ostrich-feather fastened 



to the end of a stick ; a boy on a horse will frequently thus catch thirty or forty in a day. Guns. 



dogs, and snares are also employed in their capture, owing to the length of the grass in which they 



take refuge. European dogs, even if well trained, are not of much value in their pursuit ; the Indian 



dog, on the contrary, Tschudi informs us, seldom fails to seize the game. Fruits, portions of leaves, 



insects, and seeds, constitute the food of these birds, and to the bitter taste of some of the latter is 



probably to be attributed a peculiar, disagreeable flavour occasionally observable in their flesh. We 



are at present without reliable information respecting their incubation, beyond the facts that they make 



a slight nest upon the ground, and are usually seen in pairs. The eggs are of uniform hue, with 



a beautifully bright gloss on the shell. The young only remain for a short time under their mother's 



care, and, as with the Quails, soon wander forth to obtain their o\vn subsistence. Schomburghk 



mentions having seen these birds kept and tamed in the huts of the Indians, but pronounces them to 



be very uninteresting favourites. 



THE TATAUPA. 



The Tataupa (Crypturus Tataicpd) represents a division of the above birds recognisable by their 

 powerful body, short pigeon-like neck, moderately large head, and slender, slightly-curved beak, which 

 exceeds the head in Length, and is much flattened towards the lower part of the culmen. The first 

 quill in the short wing is very small, and the fourth longer than the rest ; the tail-feathers are entirely 

 wanting, and the foot, which is of moderate height, has the hinder toe but slightly developed. The 

 rich, dark plumage is grey upon the head, throat, and breast, whilst the back, wings, and tail-covers 

 are reddish brown, and the rump-feathers black or deep browB edged with white and yellow. The 

 eye is reddish light brown, the beak coral-red, and the foot flesh-brown. The length of this species 

 is nine inches and a half, and its breadth fifteen inches ; the wing measures four inches and three- 

 quarters. The female bird is scarcely distinguishable from her mate in the coloration of her plumage, 

 whilst the young are at once recognisable by the dull brownish grey feathers on their head, throat, 

 and under side, and the deep greyish yellow hue of the belly, which is distinctly spotted widi a darker 

 shade. The Tataupa is met with in portions of Eastern Brazil, and is especially numerous in some 

 parts of Bahia. According to the Prince von Wied it prefers open quarters to forest land, and runs 

 with great rapidity over the ground. Towards evening it utters a very peculiar crj-, consisting of two 

 long-sustained notes, followed by six or eight of the same tone, but short and quickly repeated. 

 In their other habits they resemble the Tinamous. The nest is made on the ground, tlie eggs are 

 about the size of those of a Pigeon, and, according to Brehm, of a glossy, pale-chocolate hue. The 



