The HOACTZIN, or STINK BIRD (_Opisthocomus cristatus_), the only
representative of the tribe to which it belongs, has a slender body,
moderately long neck, and wings that extend to about the centre of the
tail, which is composed of ten long, broad feathers, graduated at its
sides and rounded at the extremity. The bill, which resembles both that
of the _Craces_ and of the _Penelopæ_, curves over its lower portion
at the tip, is covered with a cere at its base, and is slightly incised
at its margins. The tarsi are short, and the long toes, which are not
united by a skin, are armed with large, curved, and very sharp claws. The
plumage is prolonged upon the head and nape into a long flowing crest, the
feathers of which, like those on the neck, are narrow and pointed, while
such as cover the rump are large and rounded. The plumage on the belly is
almost downy in texture, and that of the back is coarse and harsh. The
nape, back, wings, and portion of the quills and the tail are brown, the
hinder quills enlivened by a metallic green gloss, and the feathers on the
wing-covers whitish, the belly, part of the legs, rump, primary quills,
and outer portions of the secondaries are light rust-red. The crest is
whitish yellow, partially tipped with black, the eye light brown. The bare
part of the face is flesh-pink, the beak greyish brown, with a light tip,
and the foot reddish brown. This species is twenty-four inches long; its
wing measures thirteen, and tail eleven inches.
The Hoactzin is peculiar to the northern parts of South America, and is
common in the thickets and forests near Cameta, not far from the junction
of the Talantias with the Para. "In this remarkable bird," says Bates,
"the hind toe is not placed high above the level of the rest, as it
generally is in the Rasorial order, but lies in the same plane with them,
and the shape of the foot thus becomes adapted to the arboreal habits of
the bird. This, indeed, may be said to be a distinguishing character of
all the birds in equinoctial America that represent the Fowl and Pheasant
tribes of the Old World.
"This species lives in considerable flocks on the low trees and bushes
bordering streams and lagoons, and feeds on various wild fruits,
especially the sour guava (_Psidium_). The natives say it devours the
fruit of arborescent arums (_Caladium arborescens_), which grow in
crowded masses around the swampy banks of lagoons. Its voice is a harsh
grating hiss; this noise is uttered when the birds are alarmed, all the
individuals sibilating as they fly heavily away from tree to tree. The
_Opisthocomus_ is polygamous, like other members of the order to which
it has been assigned. It is never, however, by any chance, seen on the
ground, and is nowhere domesticated. The flesh has an unpleasant odour of
musk combined with that of wet hides, a smell called by the Brazilians
_catinga_, and it is therefore uneatable. If it be as unpalatable to
carnivorous animals as it is to man, the immunity from persecution which
this bird would thereby enjoy would account for its existing in such great
numbers throughout the country."
The Hoactzin is by no means shy, and will allow the hunter to approach
very near. If alarmed at the report of a gun, the whole flock take flight
crying "cra, cra," and all alight close to each other on the branches of
some tree a few paces further off. The strong and most unpleasant odour
emitted by the bodies of these birds is supposed to be imparted by the
leaves of the trees on which they principally subsist. So powerful is the
musky smell thus acquired that the natives employ the flesh as bait for
certain fishes. Schomburghk is inclined to doubt whether this strong odour
is to be thus accounted for, and tells us that stuffed specimens retain
their disagreeable scent for several years. The very loosely-constructed
nest of the _Opisthocomus_ is placed in low bushes near the water; the
eggs, three or four in number, are greyish white, spotted with red; in
shape they resemble those of the _Penelopæ_, whilst the markings are
similar to those of the Rails.
* * * * *
The TINAMOUS (_Crypturidæ_), as the birds belonging to the last division
of this order are called, constitute a group of very remarkable South
American species, recognisable by their powerful bodies, long thin neck,
small flat head, and long, slender, curved bill. The tarsus is long, the
sole of the foot rough, and the small hinder toe, which is placed high
up, is in some instances so short as to be nothing more than a claw. The
feathers on the head and throat are small, whilst those on the rump are
large, broad, and strong. The short rounded wings have the fourth or fifth
of their slender and pointed primaries longer than the rest; the tail is
composed of ten or twelve narrow feathers, so short as to be concealed by
the long tail-covers, or in some instances they are entirely wanting. The
sexes are alike both in their coloration and general appearance. These
birds inhabit a large portion of South America, and frequent the most
various situations, open plains, dense thickets, or mountain regions;
each have their appointed occupants: whilst some are met with exclusively
at an altitude of more than 2,000 feet about the level of the sea. Their
flight is heavy, and is but seldom resorted to as a means of escape; upon
the ground they run with great rapidity, somewhat after the manner of a
Quail, and if disturbed, at once crouch down or conceal themselves amongst
the long grass. Such species as frequent forests pass the night upon the
lower branches of trees. Their voice consists of a series of deep and
high piping notes, uttered by some during the day, and by others only
when seeking their roosting-place for the night or early in the morning.
The intelligence of the _Crypturidæ_ is very limited, and if alarmed they
appear to become almost stupefied. Of one species Mr. Darwin tells us that
a man on horseback, by riding round and round so as to approach nearer
each time, may knock as many on the head as he pleases. The more common
method is to catch them with a running noose or little lasso, made of an
ostrich-feather fastened to the end of a stick; a boy on a horse will
frequently thus catch thirty or forty in a day. Guns, dogs, and snares are
also employed in their capture, owing to the length of the grass in which
they take refuge. European dogs, even if well trained, are not of much
value in their pursuit; the Indian dog, on the contrary, Tschudi informs
us, seldom fails to seize the game. Fruits, portions of leaves, insects,
and seeds, constitute the food of these birds, and to the bitter taste of
some of the latter is probably to be attributed a peculiar, disagreeable
flavour occasionally observable in their flesh. We are at present without
reliable information respecting their incubation, beyond the facts that
they make a slight nest upon the ground, and are usually seen in pairs.
The eggs are of uniform hue, with a beautifully bright gloss on the shell.
The young only remain for a short time under their mother's care, and,
as with the Quails, soon wander forth to obtain their own subsistence.
Schomburghk mentions having seen these birds kept and tamed in the huts of
the Indians, but pronounces them to be very uninteresting favourites.