THE JACANA. 339 



Long toes Wings armed with spurs. 



THE UMBEE 



TAKES its name from its colour, which is of 

 a deep brown, or umbre, and is brought from 

 the Cape of Good Hope ; it is about the size of a 

 crow, to which it is very similar. The bill is 

 three inches and a half in length, with a furrow 

 on each side the upper mandible, and from the 

 head springs a large crest of black feathers, bet- 

 ter than four inches in length. 



THE JACANA 



IS found in most of the tropical climates, but 

 is most common in South America. It is re- 

 markable for the length of its toes, and for the 

 wings being armed in front with sharp spurs. 

 There are about ten species, differing in size 

 from that of a common fowl to that of a water- 

 rail. They vary also in their plumage, some 

 brown, some black, and some variable. The 

 faithful jacana is a most useful bird at Cartha- 

 gena in South America. The natives, who keep 

 poultry in great numbers, have one of these 

 tame, who attends the flock as a shepherd, to 

 defend them from birds of prey. Though not 

 larger than a dunghill-cock, the jacana is able, 

 by means of the spurs on his wings, to keep off 

 birds as large as the carrion vulture; and even, 

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