SCOLOPACEOUS COURLAN. 113 
. ' , *•' 4 ■ * 4 , ’ * . '*,'■» < 
the Jlramus forms a still better and closer link. It was principally 
on account of the greatly compressed form of its body that we 
called it a Rail, and upon well examining the singular form of its 
bill, which is not observed in any other bird, every ornithologist 
will be satisfied of the propriety of the course we have finally 
adopted. We have no hesitation in placing it in the Jlrdeidse , 
where it is eminently distinguished from all its fellow genera 
by its toes cleft to the base and entirely separated. Together 
with Eurypyga , it aberrates somewhat towards the Scolopacidse, 
whilst by the manner of insertion of its hind toe, it tends a little 
towards the Psophidse , subfamily Gruinse , (Cuvier even going so far 
as to make it a genuine Grus ,) and claims again a well-founded 
resemblance to the most typical form of the genus Pallus. 
The Scolopaceous Courlan inhabits principally Cayenne, Brasil, 
and Paraguay, where it is rather common: it is numerous in the 
island of Cuba, and other warm parts of America. In the United 
States, Florida appears to be its most natural residence, and a 
few instances have occurred of its visiting the middle states. 
The Courlan leads a solitary life, or at most keeps in pairs ; 
night and day they cry out in a loud, sonorous, and resounding 
voice, Carau! being in the full sense of the word a Crying-bird: 
its chief food is mollusca, and other aquatic animals, and even 
frogs; but not snakes nor fishes: when frightened they move their 
tail. Like all solitary and reserved characters, this bird is 
remarkably shy: it carefully hides itself, but as soon as aware of 
being discovered it starts rapidly to a great elevation, its flight 
being long continued: they walk also with great agility, but never 
willingly wade into the water: they alight on the very summit of 
trees : they build in the grass near stagnant water, concealing 
their nest with much art: they lay but two eggs : the young 
follow their parents soon after they are hatched; and are covered 
with blackish down, the throat only being whitish. 
VOL. iv .—f f 
