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THE BALE FRUIT GROW. 
The Bare-hecked Fruit Crow inhabits Brazil and Gfuiana, and is far from uncommon 
in those countries. It is not a very large bird, hardly equalling the common jackdaw in size, 
but is worthy of notice on account of the peculiarity from which it derives its popular name. 
Instead of being covered with the usual plumage, the upper part of the head, the back of the 
neck, and the throat are clothed with very minute and closely-set feathers of a very deep 
black, so that the bird looks as if the neck had been denuded of feathers, and covered with a 
piece of neatly-sewn black velvet. On the sides of the neck even this slight clothing is absent, 
the plumage being represented merely by a few scanty feathers of down. The general color of 
the feathers is black in the male, and brownish-gray in the female, excepting the wing-coverts 
and the edges of the central quill-feathers, which are slaty-gray. The Bare-necked Fruit Crow 
is not at all an elegant bird in its form, being heavily made and thick-set. 
There are several other members of this curious group, such as the Bald Fruit Crow, 
called also the Capuchin Bald Head, on account of the peculiarity which has earned for it 
the popular titles by which it is known. In allusion to the monk-like aspect of the head, the 
Creoles of Cayenne call it “ Oiseau mon Pere.” 
This species is larger than the preceding, being quite equal to the common Carrion Crow in 
size, and being altogether of a thicker and larger make. It is plentiful in Guinea. The head 
of the Bald Fruit Crow is very large and heavily made, and the whole front of the bird is 
totally bare, like that of the leatherhead, already described and figured. Many naturalists 
BALD FRUIT CRO W.—Gfymnocephalus calms. 
think that while the Bald Fruit Crow is still young, its head is clothed with feathers, together 
with the remainder of the body, and that, like the rook of Europe, it loses the feathers when 
it attains maturity. There has been considerable argument on the subject, but it seems to 
have been tolerably well settled that the young bird is feathered and the old bird bare. 
This bird, together with the other Fruit Crows, makes the greater part of its meals on 
berries, fruits, and other vegetable substances ; but will often vary its diet by an admixture 
of insects, snails, and many similar creatures. It is seldom seen upon the ground, finding its 
food among the branches, and confining itself almost exclusively to their shelter. The generic 
names Gymnoderus and Gymnocephalus, which have been appropriately given to these birds, 
are of Greek origin, and signify, the former “naked-necked,” and the latter “naked-headed.” 
