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REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



The Chinese Jacana (Hydrophasianus sinensis), another species 

 of this family, is black and white ; excellent food, but very difficult to 

 shoot on account of its wariness ; however, it is easily domesticated, 

 when it becomes impudent and pugnacious. 



The Screamers (Palmedea), which are inhabitants of South 

 America, have the beak shorter than the head, slightly compressed, 



Fig. 118. — Faithful Jvamichi or Crested Screamer. 



and bent at the point ; the wings are wide-spreading, and provided 

 with strong spurs on the shoulders ; the toes are separated, and 

 furnished with long, stout, and pointed claws. Their plumage is of a 

 blackish hue. Their size is about that of a Turkey. Their favourite 

 haunts are moist, marshy localities, such as inundated savannahs, 

 or the oozy banks of shallow streams. Although they do not swim, 

 they venture on the water in search of aquatic plants and seeds. 

 Some naturalists, founding their belief on the presence of spurs 



