J.J. QUELCH. 127 
support of the weight of the bird when perching, (3) the ab- 
sence of the central carina or keel from the sternum, (4) the 
presence of an interclavicle, (5) the fusion of the clavicles 
with the sternum and the coracoids, with several other note- 
worthy characteristics, specialize this bird as the most remark- 
able of all living forms of its class. 
As will have been inferred from the enormous amount of 
forest and uncleared lands in Guiana, next to nothing is 
known of the nesting habits of the greater number of our 
birds; and a wide but difficult field for exploration lies in 
this direction. Many of the coast-birds have been well 
studied, and also the chief of the game-birds, the eggs of 
which are often placed under the common hen, and the 
brood reared. The Muscovy Duck well illustrates the ad- 
vantages to be derived from the domestication of a wild 
species; and equal advantages would seem to lie in the 
direction of the large Curassow or Powis (Crax alector), the 
‘species of Maroodi (Fenelope), and the Maams (Zizamus) 
—the flesh of all of which is very delicate. The birds, too, 
are very hardy—the Powis, in particular, becoming so tame 
and of a nature so pugnacious as to supply the place almost 
of a watch-dog in the yard for keeping out intruders. 
Touching for a moment on the obtrusiveness of bird- 
life in Guiana, I might mention that the birds commonly 
met with in the towns and villages and their surroundings 
include such forms as the Qu’est-ce-qu’il-dit (Pitangus sul- 
phuratus) and similar species of Tyrant Shrikes ; the Cuckoos, 
like the Ani or Old Witch (Crotophaga ani major); the Wren 
( Troglodytes furvus) ; Icterine birds or Hang-nests, like the 
Robin (Zeistes guianensis), the Mocking-Oriole (Cassicus 
persicus), the Yellow Oriole or Plantain Bird (lcferus xan- 
thornus), the Blackbird or Black Oriole (Qudscalus lugubris) ; 
the Thrush (Zurdus albiventris) ; the Tanagers of the genera 
Tanagra, Rhamphocelus, Saltator ; Swallows of the genera 
Progne and Tachycineta; Finches of the genus Spermophila ; 
Ground-Doves (Chamepelia) ; various species of Humming- 
