SCREAMER. 9 



uppermost one inch and a half in length ; belly, thighs, and vent, 

 white ; tail eight inches and a half long, and black ; legs stout, and 

 dusky, the fore claws moderately bent, the hind one nearly straight, 

 not unlike that of a Cock, and one inch in length. Both sexes are 

 much alike, and both furnished with a horn on the forehead. 



This inhabits certain districts of Cayenne, Guiana, Surinam, and 

 other parts of South America, but is by no means a common bird ; 

 is found chiefly in the marshes, and wet Savannas, for the most part 

 near the sea ; observed to be met with in pairs ; and it is said, that if 

 one dies, the other pines to death for the loss; the nest made of mud, 

 in the shape of an oven, of a large size, and placed on the ground, 

 the eggs two in number, in size equalling those of a Goose. The 

 young are brought up in the nest till able to shift for themselves ; 

 they breed but once in a year, which is in January or February ; 

 though if the first eggs are taken away, they will have a second 

 nest in April or May. Young birds are often eaten by the natives, 

 but the colour of the flesh is very dark, and that of the old ones 

 tough, and ill tasted. Some authors assert, that this bird feeds on 

 crabs, also birds, such as Pigeons, and poultry ; and even to attack 

 sheep and goats, but this is denied by others, who say, that its chief" 

 food is reptiles. In the stomach of one M. Bajon found only grass, 

 and seeds of plants, but he adds, that the bird had no gizzard. 



These seem to be the birds mentioned by Ulloa,* called by the 

 inhabitants of Quito, Dispertadores, or Awakeners, from their giving 

 notice to others of the approach of danger ; for, on hearing the least 

 noise, or seeing any one, though at a great distance, they rise from 

 the ground, and make a loud chattering like a Magpie, continuing 

 the same, and hovering over the object of their alarm, whereby other 

 birds, having notice of their danger, have time to escape : the noise 

 is said to be loud and terrible,! on which account Mr. Pennant was 

 induced to give it the name annexed. 



* Voy. ii. p. 242. Ulloa makes the size that of a Cock. He says, that the head is 

 adorned with a tuft of feathers, perhaps he may mean the next species ? 

 f Terribili voce clamitans. — Lin. 



VOL. IX, C 



