224 



AVES 



latcd; inid Uk'V c:in only be suljilivulud iijiou cliaractcrs of trivial irayiort, drawn fioni some of 

 the aii|)cndaLi;('s of the head. In order to avoid, however, an excessive inultipUcation of 

 gruit|)s. wc associate \vith them eertain j^enera the toes of which have no connecting membrane, 

 and one (that of the Pigeons) which links the Poultry with the Passeriiice, the others {such as 

 the Iloazin) |>resenting a slight a[)pro:tfh to tlic Touracos ; [very slight and superhcial in I>oth 

 instances]. 



The Curassows {Aleclor, Merrem) — 

 Are lart^^e roultry-hinls of South America, which somewhat rescmhle Turkeys, and have a liroad and 

 rniinded tail, eomjiosed of large stitf (juiUs, [fnuriren in numlier]. Several of tlieiii possess a singular 

 couformatiou of the trachea. They live in the woods, feed on huds aud fruit, perrli and nestle upon 

 trees, [their luud-toe Ijeiiig on the same plane with tliose in front], and are very socialjle and easily 

 domesticated. [The sternum has its inner cmarginatiun less deep than in other I'oultry]. (iniclin 

 and Latham lia\e divided them iut(t Curassows and Cuans, but upoa very indeterminate charaeters. 

 ^A'e suh(ii\iile tliein in the following manner: — 



The Curassows, pi'operly so called, {CraXj Lin."), — 

 Have a strong heak, its base surrounded by a skin, sometimes brightly coloured, in which the nostrils 

 are pierced; and their head is adorned with a crest of long, ereetible, narrow feathers, curled at the 

 tips. Their size is that of a Turkey, and like the members of that genus they lly \\\) into trees. They 

 are bred ill a domestic state in America, and individuals have been received from that enuntry so 

 variously coloured, tliat we hesitate about characterizing the species. 



__ ^^ The most common, or tlie Yrlldw-liillcd Cn- 



rassow (Cr. «/f'f(''jr, Liii.), is Id.^irk, witli a white 

 belly, and cere of the heak brilbaut yeHow. The 

 trachea makes but one slight curve iHjfnre it 

 enters tlie breast. Soiue, as C'r. gb.'hiccra, Lin., 

 have a larger or smaller globular tubercle at the 

 base of the beak. 



The Pauvi (Ourax, Cuv.) — 

 Have a shorter and thicker hill, and the 

 mcnilirane at its base, as well as the greater 

 ]iart of their head, is covered with short 

 druse plumage resembling velvet. 



The nios-t common of tlirni, or Uio Ga!eatrd 

 l\i\[\\ I Cr. pa /ixi. Lin.), has an uv;d tnlprnh^ at 

 thi; hase of the beak, of a liglit liliie <'()loui- and 

 ^tniiy hardness, almost as large iis Mic hratl. This 

 hied IS I. hick, with the Inwrr part of (iir i)rlly, and 

 till of tail, \\hitc. It ncsMrs on thr ;:r(Miiid, and 

 its native countn,Ms not knonn. with precision, 

 ehind the sternum, where it turns to the left, and 

 re all compressed. AnutJier species (Cr. galeataf 



1 1 ■> 



II 



The tr; 

 ascend 

 iHith.; 



Ill the vi-iit side I 

 max til rough the I 

 S|.ix), 



has a red salii 



c;ini tlic 

 ichettc ; 

 nt crci^t ( 



skm to 

 its y\\\'z^ 



nstcad of the tubercle. 



The Guans [Pcnch^j'p, AI.Trem)-- 

 Have a more slender beak than the others, aud the space anniiid the eyes naked, as is also the tliroat, 

 whieii is mostly susecptiljlc of inflation. 



:-^o many varieties of colour are found among them, that it is dilhcult to trace the limits of the various si>ecies. 

 Tlmse especially which have a crest, are extremely variable. [Tlie size is in general mnch less than in the others, 

 and form more slender : the naked parts are often beautifully coloured]. The trachea, at least in the crested 

 spi^cie.-,, rii'M'cnds under the skin far behind the jiostcrior edge of the .sternum, ascends, is again flexed, and then 

 conliniies lis ciinrse towards the fourchette, throngh which, as usual, it gains access to the lungs. In one crestlcbS 

 S|iecies {I'ni. iiKirail, Trm.), greenish-black, with a fulvous belly, {which appears very distinct,) the trachea forms 

 ill both sexes a curve :tt the uiiper jiart of tlie sternum, fiefore it enters the lungs. 



The PARRAaiJAs {Orlalida, i\!errcm)— 

 Merely difter from the Ouans in having no naked skin about the bead. 



One species only is known, of a brorjzed bto\\n abu\'e, v^llitt^h gi'ay bcneidli, and rufous on the head, (tlie Co- 



