The ARACUAN (_Ortalida Aracuan_) and its congeners are smaller than the
above birds, with longer tails, and tarsi as long as the centre toe.
In the wing the outer primaries are rounded at the tip, and the fifth,
sixth, and seventh quills longer than the rest. The cheeks and sides of
the throat are bare, the latter divided by a narrow feathered stripe. The
plumage, which is composed of soft and rounded feathers, is principally
of an olive-brown on the upper portion of the body, with a somewhat
redder shade on the crown of the head, and white edges to the feathers
on the breast and fore part of the throat; the three outer tail-feathers
are tipped with brownish red. The eye is deep brown, and the bare patch
that surrounds it blueish black; the unfeathered portions of the throat
are flesh-red; the beak light red; and foot pale flesh-red. The female
differs but slightly from her mate; the young exhibit much paler tints
than the parent birds. This species is twenty inches and a half long, and
twenty-three inches and a quarter broad; the wing measures seven and the
tail nine inches.
[Illustration: THE HOACTZIN, OR STINK BIRD (_Opisthocomus cristatus_).]
The Aracuan is an inhabitant of Central Brazil, where it is principally
met with in the forests of Bahia.