HABITS OF HOATZIN 
That is just what might be expected of an isolated type 
like the hoatzin, which seems to be a vestige of a for- 
merly existing group. That it has been called “ rep- 
tilian’’ by that distinguished authority upon bird 
anatomy, the late Professor Parker, F.R.S., is another 
way of expressing what are undoubtedly inferences to be 
drawn from its structure. An unpleasant but still 
accurate name for this South American bird is “ stink 
Pheasant.’ It derives its characteristic and formidable 
odour from the berries of a certain shrub upon which it 
largely feeds. It builds upon these or other shrubs in 
suitable localities through the northern part of the 
South American continent. These shrubs overlook 
water, in which the hoatzin, both young and adult, is an 
expert swimmer. This is not so extraordinary as might 
appear. Thesaying of the hen with her foster ducklings 
is not by any means so neat a contrast between diver- 
gent habits of life as has been imagined. Professor 
Lloyd Morgan has found that a newly-hatched chick of 
the fowl will swim, and that in a regular and “ hand- 
over-hand’”’ fashion, not to be compared to a confused 
struggle for existence in an unexpected medium. Phea- 
sant-like though it is (but here it is perhaps expedient to 
bear in mind the “ dash ”’ of rail), the hoatzin will swim 
and dive as one to the manner born. The hoatzin 
possesses at least two unique peculiarities of internal 
structure. Most birds—all except the struthious birds 
and a very few others—possess a deep “ keel”’ to the 
sternum or breast bone, associated with the attachment 
of the enormous pectoral muscles, which pull down the 
wing in flight. In the hoatzin this keel, instead of fading 
away posteriorly as is common among birds, is deficient 
anteriorly, and this deficiency of keel is furthermore 
associated with, or any at rate combined with, a huge 
and baggy and muscular crop which rests upon this part 
of the sternum, and the whole upon the branch of the 
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