26 THE LIVING ANIMALS OL THE WORLD 
The group has a wide geographical range, occurring in Europe, Africa, Madagascar, South 
Asia, the Indian Archipelago, and Australia. 
The Hoatzin 
This bird is one of the puzzles of the ornithologist. Its pedigree is still a mystery, 
but it is generally believed to have some relation to the Game-birds. Its whole life 
is passed in trees overhanging water, and its 
flight 
restricted to short journeys from tree 
to tree. In South America, its home, it is known by a variety of names, one of w'hich means 
Stinking-pheasant. This is in allusion to the peculiar odour of its flesh, which smells, 
according to some, like musk, and to others like raw hides. Another remarkable feature of 
this bird is the fact that it has turned its crop into a sort of gizzard, whilst the true gizzard, 
having been relieved of its functions, has diminished to the size of a hazel-nut. The unusual 
purpose to which the crop has been put has brought about considerable modification in the 
form of the breast-bone, which is quite 
different to that of any other bird. 
The young of these birds are quite as 
remarkable as the parents, for almost as soon 
as they are hatched they crawl out of the 
nest, along the boughs of the tree in which 
it rests, to meet the parents coming wAh 
food. In these craw'ling excursions they are 
aided by the wings, w'hich for a time serve 
as fore feet. The thumb and first finger are 
armed w'ith strong claws, with which a firm 
hold is gained on the bark of the tree. 
To render these claws effective so long as 
they are necessary, the quill-feathers of the 
tip of the wing have their development 
checked till the others have growm 
enough to serve the purposes of flight. 
The Rails 
long 
dwelling 
Pholn hy J. W. McUIlan] 
HOATZIN 
T/iis is a nati've of the Ama%ons Valles^ and li'ves entirely 
\_Highbury 
The Rails 
in 
and 
swamps 
streams. 
are all w'ater-loving birds, 
or on the borders of 
lakes and streams. Although all swim 
easily, none have webbed feet. The flight 
is weak; several species, indeed, have lost 
this power altogether. The body is much 
compressed, enabling them to pass readily 
through the narrow interspaces of dense aquatic foliage. The Rails appear to be related on 
the one hand to the Game-birds, and on the other to the Cranes. In size they vary from 
a bird as large as a fowl to one as small as a lark. 
the trees 
One of the commonest of the Rails is the CORN-CRAKE, more commonly, perhaps, 
known as the Land-RAIL. Its curious grating cry is one of the commonest sounds which the 
summer brings with it, and one possessing a charm of its own. But rarely seen, it builds 
its nest in hay-fields, and, when the gr.ass is being cut, sits so closely on its treasures that it 
is sometimes beheaded by the swinging scythe. In the autumn it falls not infrequently to 
the sportsmen when partridge-shooting. The corn-crake leaves in the winter for the more 
congenial climate of Africa, a feat that seems wonderful when its feeble powers of flight are 
considered. Its near relative the VVater-RAIL is rather a handsome bird, but of shy and 
retiring habits. 
The Weka-rail, a native of New Zealand, is one of the flightless forms to which we 
