Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/584

 580 CURASSOW been carried to Europe from Guiana, and is the one generally seen in collections ; in addi- tion to its pleasing appearance, it is mild and social in its manners, and affords a savory and Crested Curassow (Crax Elector). nutritious article of food. It inhabits the forests of tropical America in large flocks, whose peaceable members seem not to fear man unless in the neighborhood of dwellings. The nest is very rude, placed upon dry branches on trees, and lined with leaves ; the eggs are from two to six, white, resembling those of the turkey. Though living in the wildest locali- ties, it exhibits a remarkable disposition to be- come tame, and flocks of them are frequently domesticated; they perch on roofs and high trees; they are easily reared, as almost any vegetable food agrees with them ; maize, rice, bread, potatoes, and all kinds of fruits, are eagerly eaten by them. 2. The globose curas- sow (C. globicera, Linn.) is distinguished by a callous globular tubercle at the base of the bill, inclining backward, covered, like the base of the mandibles, with a bright yellow cere ; the general color is black, with the vent and Eed Curassow (Crax rubra). tip of the tail white. This bird unites with the preceding and the next species, producing hybrids, which may be more or less continued by intermixture of the primitive stocks, pre- senting a very great variety of colors ; from this has arisen many a supposed new species. 3. The red curassow (C. rubra, Linn.) has no tubercle on the bill, and has the region of the eyes feathered ; the color of the under parts is a bright chestnut, with the head, neck, and tail banded with black and white, and occasionally with yellow. 4. The wattled cura- sow (0. carunculata, Temm.) has the head black, the belly chestnut, and the cere and Cushew Curassow (Pauxi galeata). naked parts red, with a black crest. The other species are 0. globulosa (Spix), and C. urumu- tum (Spix). In the genus pavxi the bill is short and the culmen is elevated and much curved ; the sixth and seventh quills are equal and the longest; the greater part of the head is covered with short velvety feathers. Three species are described : 1. The cushew curassow (P. galeata, Lath.), with a hard and thick oval blue tubercle at the base of the bill ; general color black, but about the vent and the end of Razor-billed Curassow (Pauxi mitu). the tail white; it is about the size of a turkey, and, like the other curassows, is readily do- mesticated. 2. The razor-billed curassow (P. mitu, Linn.) is smaller than the preceding, be- ing about 2 ft. long; of a black color, with the belly chestnut. 3. The P. tomentosa (Spix). The curassows (or hoccos, as they are some- times called) and the pauxis, with the penelope or guan, are to South America what the turkey is to North America ; in the state of domesti-