THE CRESTED-SCREAMER. 359 



He who Nature's great book would sincerely 

 peruse, 

 With dispassionate judgment phenomena views; 

 Whatever he sees, and whatever his tact, 

 He will always confine himself closely to fact ; 

 Nor permits he wild wonder to dazzle his eyes, 

 Nor yields Reason a captive to silly surprize ; 

 If Discovery should give to some Novelty birth, 

 Lets not Rapture esteem it beyond its own worth ; 

 Lets not Poetry paint it in colours so fair, 

 That when seen, void of Art, is nor splendid nor rare ; 

 In fine, although led by fair Pleasure's soft hand, 

 Still,observant of Nat uPvE, gives Truth the command. 



not long survive. It seems, nevertheless, most probable 

 that the spurs on the wings are a defence against some 

 noxious animals, which infest tire native regions of this 

 bird. Feeds on herbs, seeds, and reptiles. Nest of 

 weeds, and shaped like an oven ; eggs two. When alarmed, 

 rises from the ground with a loud and continued screaming. 

 Inhabits the fenny and marshy parts of South z\merica, where it 

 is discovered by its voice, and hunted for its flesh; it is also 

 domesticated for the same purpose. Called by the natives 

 Kamichi. 



The Cristata, or Crested Scbeamer, has the wings unarmed, 

 front crested ; size of a heron ; habits and place of abode 

 similar to the last. Called by the natives Cariama, from the 

 sharp cry which it makes, and which is compared to that of a 

 turkey, but so loud as to be heard a mile off. Flesh delicate ; 

 by some thought equal to the pheasant. 



This last is described by Dr. Latham as a separate genus, 

 under the term Cariama. 



The other species is the Chaja, inhabiting Paraguay. 



