CURACOAS GLOBOSE, (23) and the CRYING, were there; And many BLACK SWANS, that of yore were so rare,*

with dusky; these are, it is also said, hatched without much attention of the female. This species is found in great abundance on the Canary Islands. It leaves this country on the approach of winter.

The Fissipes, BLACK-TERN, Cloven-footed-Gull, Pease-Crow, or Car-Swallow, is less than the common-tern, but is similar in its manner to that bird; it breeds also in this country. The Minuta, LESSER-TERN, Smaller-Tern, Lesser-Sea-Swallow, or Richel-Bird, is the smallest of the tribe, not measuring more than eight inches and half long; it is an elegant bird, and has also the habits of the common-tern; breeds in the same places, but is far less numerous. The Cantiaca, Sandwich-Tern, Kumtschutka-Tern, or Cloven-footed-Gull, is the largest of the British terns, being in length eighteen inches; it is a beautiful bird, but by no means so plentiful as the other species; it is said to breed on the coast of Kent, near Sandwich.

The Stolida, or NODDY, is also another species that may be mentioned; the body is black; front whitish; eye brownblack; hind head cinereous; bill and legs black; fifteen inches long; inhabits within the tropics.

(23) Order, GALLINÆ, (Linn.) CURAÇOA, the CRESTED, the GLOBOSE, the CASHEW, the CRYING.

The genus CRAX, (Linn.) CURAÇOA, CURASSow, or Curasso, consists of eight species, having the bill strong, thick, and the base of each mandible covered with a cere; nostrils in the middle of the cere; feathers covering the head revolute; tail large, straight, expansile: they are all inhabitants of South America; the chief of which are as follow:

* Ruru avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno.

Juvenal, Sut. vi,

See note (4,) part I.

On the waters were pleas'd their dark plumes to display,

While elegant gracefulness waits on their way.

The Alector, CRESTED-CURACOA, Curassow, Indian-Cock, Pheasant-Cock, Hocco, or Pheasant-of-Guiana, sometimes called, from the noise it makes, Powese, has the cere yellow; body black; belly white. Three other varieties, differing in the colour of the cere or the belly. The females differ from the males in their colours, but in no other external mark; three feet long; feeds on fiuits, and roosts on trees; inhabits the mountainous woods of South America; flesh good. They are frequently brought up tame in the Dutch settlements of Guiana. They breed freely in the menageries of Holland, and have also bred in this country, but the climate does not seem sufficiently warm for them.

The Globicera, GLOBOSE-CURAÇOA, or Curassow, has the body blackish-blue, lower part of the belly white; size of the last; inhabits Guiana. The Pauxi, or CASHEW-CURAÇOA, has the cere blue; body blackish; belly and tip of the tail white; size of the two preceding; inhabits New Spain.

The Galeata, GALEATED-CURAÇOA, or Curassow, has the crown with a horny cone; body black; nearly as large as a turkey, inhabits the Island of Curaçoa. The Vociferans, CRYINGCURAÇOA, or Curassow, is brown; belly whitish; bill and breast blue; size of a common fowl; a noisy clamorous bird; inhabits the mountainous parts of Mexico.

It will be perceived at the commencement of this article, that this genus has too often corrupted names applied to it; I have endeavoured to restore the true one, being CURAÇÓA, from the island so called. The term Hocco is applied to this tribe of birds by the French.

From the fertile, moist meadow, palm grove pic

turesque,

Came the splendid TOUCANS (24) with bills huge and grotesque.

TOUCANETS, mewing CAT-BIRDS, and Cocks of the

Rock,

All fearlessly mix'd with the feathery flock.

The NIGHT-RAVEN'S note, Qua, was oft heard ''midst the throng;

The huge ADJUTANT stalk'd the grallators among.

(24) Order, PICÆ, (Linn.) TOUCAN, the YELLOW-BREASTED, the GREEN, TOUCANETS.

The genus Ramphastos, (Linn.) or Toucan, comprehends eighteen species, distinguished by an enormous convex bill, which has a most grotesque appearance, being something like the shape of a mask with a large and long nose, constructed to surprise and frighten children; the tongue is not less singular than the bill, exactly resembling a feather shut up in a large case. They belong to the scausorial tribe, and have, like the parrots, two toes, before and two behind. They make much noise, particularly a hissing sound, which is heard at a considerable distance. They build in the holes of trees, which have been scooped out by the woodpecker. They lay only two eggs;, they are spread over all the warm parts of America, and, being very sensible to cold, never quit it. They feed, it is said, principally upon the fruit of the palm tree, and swallow their food whole; but the latest observations on the food of this tribe tend to shew that, during the season of incubation, at least, they feed on the eggs and young of other birds. The feathers of the toncan are greatly admired by the Brazilians, who make them up into articles of dress. The following are the chief:

The Tucanus, or YELLOW-BREASTED-TOUCAN, is blackish; abdominal band, vent, and rump, yellow; cheeks, chin, and

The EIDER-DUCK came with some other sea-fowl;
In much state appear'd, also, the GREAT-EAGLE-OWL.
The COQUIMBO-OWL, also, the BURROWING, too,

came;

Both by singular habits are known unto fame.*

The Rosy rob'd SPOONBILL, (25 the CRIMSON rob'd too, In gaudiness flaunted, not pleasing to view;

neck, orange; legs and claws lead colour; nineteen inches long; feeds upon pepper, as do several other species of the genus ; inhabits South America; the natives of Cayenne glue the skin and feathers of the neck of this bird upon their cheeks by way of ornament.

The Viridis, GREEN-Toucan, or Grigi, is green; belly yellow; rump red; fourteen inches long; inhabits and feeds like the last; bill not so enormous as some of the other species, being only about four inches and a half in length.

The TOUCANETs are, of course, the smaller species of Toucans; they are mentioned by WATERTON, but not specifically described by him: it is much to be regretted that this gentleman has not been more scientifically descriptive of the many birds which he has mentioned in his Wanderings in South America.

A Toucan is to be seen alive and in remarkable activity at the Zoological Society in Bruton-street.

(25) Order, Grallæ, (Linn.) SPOON-BILL, the WHITE, the ROSEATE, the DWARF.

The genus PLATALEA, (Linn.) or SPOONBILL, consists of five species, one of which, the Leucorodia, is found occasionally in this country. The distinguishing characteristics of this tribe is its singular bill, having, as its name imports, the shape of a spoon; its singularity does not, however, consist merely in its shape, but also in its structure, for it is not hard like the beaks, of other birds, but soft and flexible like leather; it is commonly

* For an account of the OwLs, see note (41,) part I.

While CANARY-BIRDS fluttered the branches among,
And now warbled apart, now in concert a song.
The TROPIC-BIRD (26) swift, too, was seen in mid sky;
And that TYRANT, the SHRIKE, you might also descry.

seven inches long, and nearly two in breadth towards the point; all round the upper mandible runs a rim which covers the lower one; the nostrils are small, at the base of the bill; tongue short, pointed; feet semi-palmated. The following are the chief:

Of the Leucorodia, WHITE-SPOONBILL, Spoonbill, or Pelican, there are three varieties. The first has the body white; chin black; ħind-head subcrested: the second has the wings varied with black and white; legs yellowish and the third has the body all white; legs flesh-colour; two feet eight inches long; feeds on fishes, frogs, snakes, and grass; builds in high trees; eggs three or four, white, with reddish spots; flesh resembles a goose, especially when young; inhabits Europe and Asia, and is seen occasionally in this country.

The Ajaja, or Roseate-SpoonbiLL, has the body rosy; tailcoverts scarlet; another variety blood-red; neck white; collar black; tail-feathers scarlet; two feet three inches long; the first variety inhabits Guiana and Brazil; the last Mexico and Jamaica. The Pygmæa, or DWARF-SPOONBILL, has the body above brown, beneath white.

In the European Spoonbill both mandibles are black, brown, or grey; the beak of the American Spoonbill is of a red colour, resembling its feathers; all the different species are inhabitants of the sea-coast; they are sometimes met with in vast flocks. Notwithstanding the brilliant colours of the American species, the spoonbill is generally considered an ugly bird. The Leucorodia is found in great plenty in Holland.

(26) ORDER, ANSERES, (Linn.) TROPIC-BIRD, the COMMON, the BLACK-BILLED, the RED-Tailed.

The genus PHAETON, (Linn.) or TROPIC-BIRD, comprehends four species only, distinguished by a sharp-edged, straight,