184 



MARAIL GUAN. 



b©ak, which is of a fine red : the naked part of the 

 neck, and the elongated membrane, are of a bril- 

 liant red, sprinkled with a few hairs : the feet are 

 red ; the claws and beak are black : the female 

 differs in having a smaller crest, and the plumage 

 tinged with reddish. 



This bird generally has two broods in the year, 

 one at the commencement of the rainy season, 

 ftbout December or January, the other about May 

 or June ; the female depositing from ^bout three 

 to six eggs : it constructs its nest in the middle of 

 thick bushy trees, as near the trunk as possible* 

 When the eggs are hatched, the mother feeds the 

 young ones in the nest, till the feathers begin to 

 make their appearance, which is in about ten or 

 twelve days, when they descend with their mother, 

 who, like other poultry, scratches the ground, and 

 broods over the young, which quit heir as soon as 

 they can shift for themselves : they feed upon the 

 lesser grains, fruits, and insects. The best time 

 for taking these birds is morning or evening, 

 being then found on such trees whose fruit they 

 feed on ; they are discovered by some of it falling 

 on the ground. The young are easily tamed, and 

 seldom forsake the place where they have been 

 reared : they prefer roosting on tall trees. Their 

 cry is far from disagreeable, except when irritated, 

 when it is harsh and loud; and at that crisis it 

 erects all the feathers of the head, and changes 

 the colour of the membrane on the throat. It is 

 common in many parts of America, particularly 

 the woods of Guiana. Its flesh is very fine. 



