J A C A N A. 247 



vious : on both fides, at the bale of the bill, is a red membrane, 

 which extends to the temples ; in the middle of this are placed 

 the eyes : the irides are brown : the hind head is furnilhed with 

 about a dozen blackilh feathers, three inches in length, which 

 form a creft; thefe hang downwards : the reft of the neck, which 

 is pretty long, is covered with a thick black down ; but under 

 the bill and temples it is of a pure white : the body is brown: the 

 wings and tail blackifh, clouded with grey ; the laft fhort : on 

 the bend of the wing two or three fpurs half an inch in length : 

 belly black, but lefs deep : the thighs are half way bare of fea- 

 thers : knee joints thick and fwelling : legs very long, ftrong, 

 and of a yellowifh red colour : toes alfo fo long as to entangle 

 the one in the other in walking. 



This bird inhabits the lakes, &c. near the river Cinu, about p, .'„„ „„„ 



* & L"tt AND 



thirty leagues from Carthagena, in South America, and is faid to Manners. 

 feed on vegetables. Its gait is folemn and flow; but it flies eafily 

 and fwiftly. It cannot run, unlefs aflifted by the wings at the 

 fame time. When any part of the fkin is touched by the hand a 

 crackling is felt, though it is very downy beneath the feathers ; and 

 indeed this down adheres fo clofely as to enable the bird at times 

 to fwim. The voice is clear and loud, but far from agreeable. 

 The natives, who keep poultry in great numbers, have one of 

 thefe tame, which goes along with the flock about the neigh- 

 bourhood to feed during the day, when this faithful fhepherd de- 

 fends them againft birds of prey ; being able, by means of the 

 fpurs on the wings, to drive off birds as big as the Carrion 

 Vulture, and even that bird itfelf. It is fo far of the greateft 

 ufe, as it never deferts the charge committed to its care, bringing 



ther^ 



