Order  VII.  GRALLiE. 
Family  IV.  Palamedeid^e. 
The  second  Subfamily, 
PALAMEDEINiE,  or  Screamers, 
have  the  Bill  short,  with  the  culmen  sloping,  and  curved  to  the  tip,  and  the  sides  compressed ;  the 
Nostrils  large,  placed  in  a  membranous  groove,  lateral,  and  exposed ;  the  Wings  rather  lengthened,  with 
the  shoulder  armed  with  two  strong  spurs  ;  the  Tail  moderate  ;  the  Tarsi  lengthened,  robust,  and 
covered  with  numerous  small  scales  ;  the  Toes  lengthened,  the  anterior  ones  united  by  a  short  mem- 
brane ;  and  the  Claws  long  and  curved. 
Palamedea  Linn.* 
Bill  short,  with  the  culmen  elevated  and  curved  to  the  tip,  which  projects  beyond  the  lower  mandible  ; 
the  sides  compressed,  and  the  gonys  short  and  straight ;  the  nostrils  placed  in  a  large  membranous  nasal 
groove,  with  the  opening  large,  lateral,  and  oval.  Wings  long  and  ample,  with  the  first  two  quills 
shorter  than  the  third  and  fourth,  which  are  the  longest.  Tail  moderate  and  rounded.  Tarsi  rather 
shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  and  covered  with  small  reticulated  scales.  Toes  very  long,  the  lateral 
ones  unequal,  united  to  the  middle  one  by  a  short  membrane,  and  covered  above  with  quadrate  scales. 
The  head  ornamented  by  a  slender  cylindrical  horn  ;  and  the  lores  feathered. 
The  type  of  this  genus  inhabits  the  marshy  and  inundated  grounds  of  the  northern  parts  of  South  America, 
especially  those  that  are  situated  near  the  sea.  It  is  generally  found  in  pairs,  and  is  very  shy  and  timorous,  but  soon 
betrays  itself  by  its  loud  calls.  When  at  rest  it  generally  perches  on  the  branch  of  a  lofty  tree.  Seeds  and  leaves' of 
aquatic  plants  constitute  its  principal  food. 
P.  cornuta  Linn.  PI.  enl.  451. 
Chauna  IUig.ii 
Bill  short,  with  the  culmen  elevated  and  sloping,  and  arched  to  the  tip,  which  is  vaulted  and  hooked, 
and  the  gonys  moderate  and  straight ;  the  nostrils  lateral,  large,  placed  in  a  membranous  nasal  groove, 
with  the  opening  large.  Wings  long,  with  the  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  quills  the  longest.  Tail  moderate 
and  nearly  even.  Tarsi  long,  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  and  covered  with  reticulated  scales.  Toes 
long,  the  lateral  ones  unequal,  the  outer  being  the  longest,  and  the  anterior  ones  united  at  their  base  by 
a  membrane,  and  covered  above  with  small  rather  quadrate  scales.    The  lores  denuded  of  feathers. 
*  Established  by  Linnaeus  (Systema  Naturce)  in  1766.    Brisson,  in  1760,  had  used  Anhima  for  the  same  division. 
t  Established  by  Illiger  (Prodromus,  SfC.  p.  2.5.S.)  in  1811;  while,  in  1816,  Vieillot  proposed  Opistholophus  for  the  same  bird. 
