194 



HOATZIN SERPENT-EATER. 



the under, as far as the belly, reddish white : the 

 belly and vent rufous: tips of the middle and 

 larger wing-coverts w^hite, forming two bars on the 

 wings ; the edge of which is white half way from 

 the bend : quills rufous : from the occiput to the 

 top of the back, each feather has a white streak 

 down the middle, or rather the shaft is of that 

 colour: the tail is cuneiform, and of the same 

 colour with the back ; the tip yellow : legs black, 

 without spurs. 



It inhabits Guiana, and is found on trees near 

 rivers : its food consists of grains and seeds ; it 

 will also eat insects and serpents : it has a howling 

 disagreeable note : its flesh has a very disagreeable 

 smell (probably caused by the quality of its food,) 

 and is consequently not eaten, but is used by the 

 fishermen to catch certain fishes. 



