98 



ZOOLOGY* 



4. Cras. CurAssow. Bill stjong, thick, the base of the 



mandibles covered with cere; nostrils situated in the 

 cere ; feathers on the head long, with recurvate tips, 

 forming an elegant crest ; tail large, strait, expansile. 



The Curassows are principally natives of South America, 

 are very shy, run with great swiftness, and fly better than 

 most birds of equal bulk, they inhabit mouatainous woody 

 districts; and are sometimes taken by steeping grain in 

 spirituous liquor, and placing it in situations where these 

 birds resort ; on devouring the grain thus prepared, they 

 become stupified, and may then be easily taken ; this plan 

 •will be found to answer for the capturing of most of the 

 birds of this order. 



5. Phasianus, Pheasant. Bill short, strong, curving at 



the tip; the edges of the upper mandible projecting 

 over the lower one ; nostrils covered with a bare gra- 

 nulated skin j legs strong, furnished with a spur on the 

 inner side. 



Most species of this genu^ are natives of India, and the 

 adjacent Islands, and are all of splendid plumage ; some of 

 the kinds are domesticated, and the common Fowl, (P. 

 Gallus)^ is rarely met with but in a domesticated state ; it is 

 originally a native of the East, but is now generally dispersed 

 throughout most civilized countries, it is subject to numer- 

 ous varieties, in colour, texture and disposition of its feathers. 

 The other species are mostly shy, and resort to the jungles 

 and forests of India, they feed almost exclusively on grain ; 

 the flesh of all the kinds is in high esteem as food. They 



