156 AVES. 



A more or less considerable portion of the head and neck is destitute of fea- 

 thers in nearly all of them. 



We first find Psophia, Lin. , or the Trumpeters, which have a shorter 

 beak tlian the other species; tlie head and neck are merely invested with 

 down, and the cii'cumference of the eye is naked. They live in the woods 

 and feed on grain and fruit. 



The species best known is from South America, and is called the Truvn- 

 peter, from its faculty of producing a low, deep sound. It is a very grateful 

 bird, and as susceptible of attachment to man as a dog. It is even said to 

 be so docile as to take the command of the poultry-yard. It flies badly, but 

 runs fast, and builds on the ground at the foot of a tree. Its flesh is eaten. 



Certain Cranes foreign to Europe, with a shorter beak than is found in 

 those that belong to it, should come next. Such is the Crowned Crane from 

 Africa. 



The Common Cranes have a beak as long as the head, or longer: to which 

 belongs the common species celebrated for its migrations. 



Between the Cranes and Herons we must place 



Jlrd. helias, L. (The Sun-Bird.) It is about the size of a Partridge, and 

 its long slender neck, broad and open tail, and rather short legs give it a 

 very diff"erent appearance from that of any other Wader. Its plumage 

 shaded in bands and lines with brown, fawn-colour, red, grey and black, re- 

 calls to our minds the colouring of the most beautiful of the nocturnal Le- 

 pidoptera. It is found on the banks of the rivers in Guiana. 



The second tribe is more carnivorous, and is known by its stron- 

 ger beak and larger toes: wc may place at its head, 



Cancroma, Lin. 

 The Boat-bill, which would closely appjeach the Herons in the strength 

 of the beak and in the regimen resulting therefrom, but for the extraor- 

 dinary form of that organ, which we shall find, however, by close examina- 

 tion, to be nothing more than the beak of a Heron or Bittern, very much 

 flattened. In fact, it is veiy wide from right to left, and is formed like two 

 spoons, the concave sides of which are placed in contact. The mandibles 

 are strong and trenchant, the upper one having a sharp tooth on each side 

 of its point; the nostrils, situated near its base, are continued on in two par- 

 allel grooves to near the point. There are four toes to the feet, long, and 

 almost without membranes, and accordingly we find that these birds perch 

 upon trees on the banks of rivers, whence they precipitate themselves upon 

 the fish, which constitute their customary food. Their gait is slow, and in 

 their attitudes they resemble the Herons. The species known is, 



Cancr. cochlearia, L.. (The Boat -bill. ) Size of a hen; whitish; grey or 

 brown back; red belly; a white forehead, followed by a black calotte, which, 

 in the adult male, is changed into a long tuft: inhabits the hot and marshy 

 parts of South America. 



Then come 



