The SUPERCILIOUS GUAN (_Penelope superciliaris_) represents a group
recognisable by their comparatively large size, moderately long tail,
and soft plumage, as also by the small crest upon their head, and the
absence of feathers on the brow, sides of the neck, and throat. Upon the
crown, nape, throat, and breast, the plumage of this species is of a slaty
black, shaded with grey; each of the feathers edged with a whitish line,
while those of the back, wings, and tail are metallic green, bordered
with whitish grey and reddish yellow; the feathers on the belly and
rump are brown and yellowish red, and the quills delicately edged with
greyish yellow. A whitish brown stripe passes above the brown eye, which
is surrounded by a bare patch of black skin; the bare throat is deep
flesh-red; the beak greyish brown; and the foot dusky reddish brown. The
female is recognisable from her mate by the comparative indistinctness
both of the stripes above the eye and the light borders to the feathers.
The young are principally of a pale greyish brown, with a reddish yellow
line over the eye, and are delicately marked with undulating lines upon
the breast, rump, and leg feathers. This bird is twenty-four inches long;
the wing measures ten, and the tail ten and a half inches.
The Supercilious Guan is an inhabitant of Brazil, and is particularly
numerous in the district of Para: it is called by the Indians "Jack-peva."