€40 CRESTED BOAT^ILt. 



* outer ones : between the beak and eye the skin is 

 naked, and dusky : the forehead is white : across 

 the lower part of the neck behind is a transverse 

 band of dusky black, passing forwards on each side 

 towards the breast, and ending in a point a little 

 above the bend of the wings : the rest of the neck, 

 with the breast, and upper part of the abdomens 

 are bluish white : the rest of the abdomen and the 

 thighs are rufous : the feathers at the base of the 

 neck are loose, as in the Herons : the thighs are 

 four inches in length, and the leg three and a half; 

 th:e latter, and the naked space on the lower part 

 of the former, are yellowish brown : the claws are 

 black. 



This species varies in having the body spotted 

 with brown, and also in having the upper parts 

 pale rufous instead of cinereous : the tail reddish 

 ash, and the under parts entirely of a creami- 

 colour; with the beak and legs yelldw-brown. 

 This inhabits various parts of South America, fre- 

 quenting the borders of rivers : it perches on the 

 trees overhanging the streams, pouncing upon the 

 fish which swim beneath : it is likewise said to feed 

 on crabs. 



