th a greenish gloss. The legs
are very long and slight,--as are the toes and claws, especially that of
the hind-toe, which is nearly straight. The body is about ten inches
long; and the beak upwards of an inch, and of an orange colour.

The jacana feeds on aquatic insects and vegetable matter. While feeding
it utters a low-sounding cluck, cluck, at short intervals. When flying
it throws out its long legs horizontally to their full length, generally
skimming above the surface, out of danger.

Its body is of a peculiarly light construction, so that, large as it
appears, it weighs but little when pressing the floating leaves, on
which it delights to walk in search of its prey.

FRIGATE-BIRD PELICANS.

Even to the distance of fifteen hundred miles and more from the mouth of
the Amazon, large flocks of the high-flying frigate-birds are descried
hovering at an immense height above the stream, preparing to plunge down
and seize their finny prey.

They measure seven feet from wing to wing, and appear almost to live in
the air. The neck is partly bare, and very extensible; the bill long,
and hooked at the end; the feet small, and webbed. The body of the male
is entirely black, while the hen has the head and neck white.

It is probably a different species from the frigate-bird, or sea-hawk,
of the Eastern tropical seas.

THE HORNED SCREAMER.

On the shores of a sand-bank, flocks of wild gulls may be seen flying
overhead uttering their well-known cries, sandpipers coursing along the
edge of the water, here and there lonely wading birds stalking about,
and among them the curious Palamedea cornuta--the anhima of the
Brazilians, or the horned screamer of Cuvier--called also the kamichi.
Startled by the approach of the canoe, up it flies, its harsh screams
resembling the bray of a jackass--but shriller and louder, if possible--
greatly disturbing the calm solitude of the place.

It is the size of a swan, but more nearly resembles a crane. On its
head it wears a long, pointed horn, surrounded with small black and
white feathers. It has a tail about eight inches long; its wings, when
folded, reaching to more than half the length of the tail. They are
armed with sharp spines, with which it can inflict a wound on its foes,
and which assist it in repelling the attacks of snakes and guarding its
young from their rapacity. Unless when attacked, however, it seldom
uses its weapon of defence. It walks boldly along, as if c