502 VULTURES. 



curious Palamedea comuta — the anhima of the Brazilians, or 



the horned screamer of* Cuvier — called also the- kamichi. 

 Startled by the approach of the canoe, up it flies, its harsh 

 screams resembling the bray of a jackass but shriller and 



louder, if possible greatly disturbing the calm solitude of the 



place. 



It is the size of a swan, but more nearly resembles a crane. 

 On its head it wears a long, pointed horn, surrounded with 

 small black and white feathers. It has a tail about eight 

 inches long; its wings, when folded, reaching to more than 

 half the length of the tail. They are armed with sharp spines, 

 with which it can inflict a wound on its foes, and which assist 

 it in repelling the attacks of snakes and guarding its young 

 from their rapacity. Unless when attacked, however, it sel- 

 dom uses its weapon of defence. Tt walks boldly along, as if 

 conscious of its power ; and when on the wing, has a strong 

 and easy flight. 



The head and neck are of a greenish -brown colour, and 

 covered with soft feathers. The back is black, except the 

 upper part, which is brown, with yellow spots; the whole 

 lower part, with the thighs, of a silveiy white. 



Tt feeds on grain and aquatic plants, in search of which it 

 wades through the reptile-haunted morasses. 



VULTURES. 

 Monarch of the feathered tribes of the forest, the king 

 vulture fears no rival throughout his wild domain. While the 

 condor has its home on the mountain- tops, the sovereign of 

 the vultures confines himself exclusively to the thickly-wooded 

 regions along the banks of the rivers or lagoons, where he can 

 more readily obtain the carcasses on which he feeds. 



