The Living Animals of the World, Volume II: Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians, Fishes, Jointed Animals, Molluscs, etc.

BLACK-CHESTED CHESTED GUINEA-FOWL. a very long description. But a word as to This is a black bir.i, with light blue spots. the so-called "tail." This magnificent wealth

The Game-birds and Rails 409

of plumes does not represent the tail, as is popularly supposed, but is made up of the feathers of the lower part of the back and the upper tail-coverts. These gradually increase in length from before-backwards, culminating in the long and exquisite feathers which form the circumference of the huge, outspread shield. This shield is properly called the " train "; the true tail lies behind it and acts as a support. When the bird is about to display, the " train " till the well-feathers are slowly and gently raised known fan-shaped glory of green and gold and blue is exposed to the fullest possible extent.

"Watch the bird trying to do his best to

is.persuade his chosen what a handsome fellow he He first places himself more or less in front of her, but at some little distance off; and then, watching his opportunity, walks rapidly backwards, going faster and faster and faster, till, arrived within a foot, he suddenly, like a flash, turns round and displays to the Duchess of Bedford.the full his truly gorgeous vestments. This turning Photo by movement is accompanied by a violent shaking of NEST OP BKUSH-TUEKEY AT WOBURN ABBEY. the train, the quills of which rattle like the pattering This is made by several birds, of decaying vegetable matter,

• is followed in which the eggs are laid aDd left to hatchof rain upon leaves. Often this movement by a loud scream. it will be noticed that it lies so far forward that the " When the train is fully erect, bird's head and neck appear as if rising from its base. In a side view the whole body, from the front of the wings backwards, appears to lie behind the train."

This bird is a native of India, where it is held in great reverence by the Hindus, and

[Wishaw, N.B. Photo by C. Reid]

TURKEY COCK AND HEN.

The curious " tassel " depending from the breast is found in no other bird. 52

4IO The Living Animals of the World

in the Hindu States it is not allowed to be killed under any circumstances. There are two, some say three, distinct species of peacock, but they all closely resemble one another. Brief mention will serve for the GUINEA-FOWLS and TURKEYS, since they are well known to us all. GUINEA- FOWLS are African birds. The farm- " yard form, popularly known as Come-backs," from their peculiar cry " come-back, come-back, come-back," is a descendant of the common helmeted form, of which type there are eight distinct species. Besides these are four crested species; one Photo by Kerry & Co.] [Sydney. very beautiful species known as the

WALLACE'S PAINTED MEGA.PODE. VULTURE-LIKE GUINEA-FOWL ; and one,

This bird buries its eggs in the sand, burrowing for each a slanting hole from the rarest of all, known as the BLACK 3 to 4 feet deep. GUINEA-FOWL. Even in the British Museum, writes Mr. Ogilvie Grant, " there are only two examples of it, and neither of these " " Chaillu. One day," he says, I wentare perfect specimens." It was discovered by M. Du out hunting by myself, and, to my great joy, shot another new bird, a black wild-fowl, one is bare, is in theof the most singular birds I have seen in Africa.... The head, where it ... Wild they are, and mostfemale of a pink hue, and in the male of a bright scarlet. difficult to approach, and rare, even in the forests where they are at home." They do not. travel in huge flocks, like other guinea-fowls, but a male and two females at most.

The familiar form of the TURKEY scarcely needs description; but most people are probably is a native of America, so it certainly cannotpuzzled by its name. Why Turkey? The bird is on accounthave anything to do with its place of origin. Professor Newton has it that it " of its call-note, to be syllabled ' turk, turk, turk,' whereby it may almost be said to have named itself." is descended from the MEXICAN TURKEY, and was probably The domesticated turkey introduced into Europe during the sixteenth century. This, according to Captain Ben dire, is a mountain-living species, and x still abundant in the wilder portions of Western Texas and its domesticated descendant, CaptainNew Mexico. It appears to attain greater bulk than Bendire having recorded a specimen shot by himself which weighed 28 Ibs. after having been drawn, and heavier birds are said to occur occasionally.

The Mexicans say that, the coyotes catch turkeys by running in circles under the tree in which they are roosting, till the birds get dizzy with watching them, and fall down into

! the open mouths below There are three distinct kinds of turkey the MEXICAN, AMERICAN, and HONDURAS TURKEY. The last is a very fine bird, with a bright blue head and neck, instead of red. The top of the head is adorned with numerous scarlet, berry-like warts, looking like holly-berries. The BOB-WHITES, which belong to the group of tooth-billed game-birds known as American Partridges and Quails, demand a brief reference here. The species represented in the illustration on page 399 is common in the lowlands of Texas. It is a very unsuspicious bird, and in consequence falls an easy prey to foxes, hariers, and rattlesnakes, the last-named being the worst enemies, as many as five of these unfortunate birds having been taken at one time frem the stomach of one of these monsters, and on another occasion a female and half a dozen of her eggs were similarly discovered.

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The MEGAPODES and BRUSH-TURKEYS, though dull and uninteresting-looking birds, are, on account of the facts connected with the propagation of their species, quite remarkable. They do not brood over their eggs, as do other birds, but instead bury them, either in sand in the neighbourhood of warm springs or in heaps of decaying vegetable matter. In the latter case the material is often collected by several birds working together. Mounds of 8 feet high and 60 feet in circumference have been found, the work of the NICOBAR MEGAPODE. Such have been many years in use, material being added each season. Into this mass the female digs down and deposits an egg every second day, covering it up as soon as laid. There it remains till hatched, when the young, probably aided by its mother, forces its way up to the surface, and emerges, not a downy nestling as one would expect, but clothed with feathers differing but slightly in texture from those worn in the adult state. Owing to the precocious development, young megapodes are able to fly within an hour after birth. There are many different kinds of megapodes occurring in Australia, Samoa, and the Nicobar and Philippine Islands. The CURASSOWS and G-UANS are very handsome birds, but probably quite unknown to most of our readers, yet they may always be seen in Zoological Gardens. They are closely

Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.] [Parson's Ureen.

RAZOR-BILLED CURASSOW.

So called from the sharp ridge along the top of the beak.

related to the megapodes, which we have just been discussing; but their nesting habits are quite different. They lay their eggs in nests, either on the ground or in trees, and brood over them like other birds. Many have brilliantly coloured bare skin on the head and handsome crests. They are natives of Central and South America, where they are often kept by the settlers, as they tame easily. It is said that one of the guans, when crossed with the domesticated fowl, becomes intensely pugnacious, and superior to the game-cock for Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.] [Parso fighting purposes. CRESTED CURASSOW. So called from its crest of curled feathers.

BUSTARD-QUAIL AND PLAIN-WANDERERS.

These are small and quail-like in appearance, though they are probably only distant relatives of the Game-birds. But they are, nevertheless, remarkable birds. A great authority, : " The most remarkableMr. A. 0. Hume, writing of the INDIAN BUSTARD-QUAIL, says of them point in the life-history of these bustard-quails is the extraordinary fashion in which, amongst them, the position of the sexes is reversed. The females are the larger and handsomer birds. The females only call, the females only fight natives say that they fight for the males, and sit upon the eggs, the females meanwhile... only...probably this is true. The males lastly, thelarking about, calling, and fighting," without any care for their obedient mates; and, males tend... the young brood."

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 which 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 with food. In these crawling excursions they are aided by the wings, which for a time serve as fore feet. The thumb and first finger are armed with 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 grown long enough to serve the purposes of flight.

THE KAILS.

The RAILS are all water-loving birds, dwelling in swamps or on the borders of lakes and streams. Although all swim