640 
CRESTED BOATBILL. 
outer ones : between the beak and eye the skin is 
naked, and dusky : the forehead is white ; across 
the lower part of tlie neck behind is a transverse 
band of dusky black, passing forwards on each side 
towards the breast, and ending in a point a little 
above the bend of the wings : the rest of the neck, 
with the breast, and upper part of the abdomen,- 
are bluish white : the rest of the abdomen and the 
thighs are rufous : the feathers at the base of the 
neck are loose, as in the Herons ; the thighs are 
four inches in length, and the leg three and a half; 
the latter, and the naked space on the lower part 
of the former, are yellowish brown : the claws are 
black. 
, This species varies in having the body spotted 
with brown, and also in having the upper parts 
pale rufous instead of cinereous : the tail reddish 
ash, and the under parts entirely of a cream- 
colour ; with the beak and legs yellow-brown. 
This inhabits various parts of South America, fre- 
quenting the borders of rivers : it perches on the 
trees overhanging the streams, pouncing upon the 
fish which swim beneath : it is likewise said to feed 
on crabs. 
