1849. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
217 
®l)e JjJotiltrg $ari». 
The Curassow. 
It is probable that all our domestic birds, were some 
time or other, reclaimed from a wild state. Such we 
know to be the fact in regard to some of them. The 
turkey, for instance, was unknown on the Old Continent 
till after the discovery of America, where it was found 
only as an inhabitant of the forest. The common do¬ 
mestic goose has been traced to the European wild 
goose, and the common duck to the wild mallard. 
In reference to the domestication of birds, the ques¬ 
tion has been asked—“ Gan- we tame more of them ?” 
Everyday's observation brings more or less evidence in 
favor of the affirmative of this question. The only 
point to be considered is, whether any birds that are 
63— -CRESTED CURA8SOW. 
susceptible of domestication, will prove useful; and 
even this must be finally determined by experiment, 
though we may be influenced by probabilities in making 
the attempt. 
The Curassows (Cracidce) are included in the galli¬ 
naceous order. The family embraces several species, 
all of which are natives of Mexico and South America. 
We are informed that in parts of these countries, they 
have been long reclaimed, and a writer observes that 
u it is really surprising, considering the extreme famili¬ 
arity of their manners, and the facility with which they 
pass from a state of nature to the tameness of domes¬ 
tic, fowls, that they have not yet been introduced into 
the poultry yards of Europe.” It is stated on the au¬ 
thority of Temminck, that they were once thoroughly 
acclimated in Holland, and were as prolific in their do¬ 
mestic state as any common domestic poultry ; but that 
the establishment where they were kept, was broken up 
in the commotions which followed the French Revolu¬ 
tion. Several of the species are described as of consi¬ 
derable size, of beautiful plumage; and their flesh is 
said to surpass in whiteness and delicacy of flavor, the 
common fowl and even the pheasant. 
The figures herewith given are those of the crested 
cnrassow (fig. 63,) and galeated curassow (fig. 64.) 
“The galeated curassow,” says Martin, “equals a 
hen turkey in size; it is a native of the forests of Mex¬ 
ico, where it lives in large flocks, which frequent the 
branches of the tallest trees. It is said, however, to 
ifsake its nest generally on the ground, a circumstance 
the' more favorable for its naturalization as a domestic 
bird. The young are led about by the female, following 
her exactly in the same way as the chickens of the or¬ 
dinary fowl, or of the pheasant or partridge, following 
their respective mothers, obedient to her call. At first 
the young feed principally on insects and their lame, 
such as those of ants, &c., which are everywhere abun¬ 
dant; by degrees they begin to feed on various seeds 
and fruits, much in the same way as docs the young of 
the turkey, which bird, in many of its general habits, 
this species appears to resemble.” 
“ The crested curassow equals, or rather excels, the 
preceding species in size, and is a very graceful and no¬ 
ble bird; it is a native of Mexico, Guiana, and Brazil, 
and in fact appears to have an extensive range over the 
warmer regions of the American continent. It abounds 
to such an extent in the woods of Guiana, that M. Son- 
nini regards it as one of the surest sources of supply on 
which a traveler penelrati.no- the vast forests of that re- 
gion, With his gun only, to which he must look for sub¬ 
sistence, may place his reliance. This bird congregates 
in numerous flocks, which are in general little disturbed 
by the intrusion of man into their haunts; indeed, so 
64 —GAIXEATED CURASSOW. 
unsuspicious are they, that when their ranks have been 
thinned by the fowling-piece or rifle, the rest have re¬ 
mained quietly perched upon the trees, as if uncon¬ 
scious of the havoc committed amongst them. In the 
neighborhood of inhabited places, however, where their 
proximity to man, who is their most active persecutor, 
has taught them to fear him, they are far more wild, 
cautious and distrustful, and recede deeper into the re¬ 
cesses of the wood on the approach of the hunter, who 
nevertheless destroys them in great numbers. They 
build large rude nests on the branches of trees, con¬ 
structing them of twigs and sticks, interlaced with 
stalks of herbaceous plants, and lining them with abed 
of dried leaves and grass. According to Azara, the 
female lays eight eggs (Sonnini says five or six,) near¬ 
ly as -large as those of a turkey, but white and thick- 
shelled. 
“ In captivity, tile crested curassow is gentle apd fa¬ 
miliar, and according to M. Ameshoff’s experience in 
his vivarium, may be domesticated with very little trou¬ 
ble. The galeated curassow is a fine bird., but we 
think this species to be altogether more graceful; its 
beautiful forward-curled crest is an elegant ornament, 
it consists of velvety feathers, from two to three inches 
in length, and is capable of being raised or depressed, 
at pleasure. The eyes are surrounded by a naked skin, 
which extends to the cere. The general plumage is of 
a deep black, with a slight metallic gloss of green, the 
abdominal region being of a dull white.” 
Profits of Poultry. 
Eds. Cultivator —In looking over The Cultivator , 
I saw a number of accounts of the profits of keeping 
poultry; having kept an account myself the past year, 
1 I propose to add my experiment to the number. My 
