ODiffiB IWraiORUIS JDEHTATDS
ODONTOPHORUS DENTATUS.
Capueira Partridge.
S p e c if ic C haracter .
Od. corpore subtus fuscescenti-plumbco ; crisso rufescenti-fusco, nigro guttato.
Crown o f the head and crest reddish brown, finely freckled with darker brown; forehead and
a line over the eye to the occiput rusty red; orbits less denuded than in O. Guianensis
and o f a red colour; scapularies and tertiaries very strongly marked with blotches o f
black, chestnut and greyish brown, with a longitudinal stripe o f bufly white down the
centre o f each feather; primaries dark brown, crossed on their outer webs with a series of
bands or spots of white ; rump buff, freckled with brown, the centre o f many o f the
feathers with a fine stripe of olive down the centre; tail dark brown freckled with b uff;
under surface uniform brownish lead-colour; under tail-coverts reddish brown spotted
with black; bill dark brown ; tarsi and feet deep lead-colour.
Total length, 11 inches ; bill, t ; wing, 5 f ; tail, 1; tarsi, l i ; middle toe and nail, H.
P e rd ix dentata, Temrn. Pig. et Gall., Part III. pp. 418 and 734.—Nieu Weid, Trav., vol. iv.
p. 486, but not the synonyms.— Licht. Verz. der doub., p. 63.
JL’Uru, Azara, Voy., tom. iv. p. 158.
P e rd ix Capueira, Spix, Av. Sp. Novas, tom. ii. p. 59. tab. 7 6 \
O rty x capistratus, Jard. and Selb. 111. Orn., vol. i. pi. 38.
Odontophorus Guianensis, G. R. Gray, List o f Gen. o f Birds, 2nd Edit., p. 80.—List of Birds
in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part III. p. 43.
Capueira, Oriental Brazilians. H a ta ra t, Botocudo Indians.
T he present species, which is very common in all museum collections, has been frequently confounded with
the 0 . Guianensis, which is nearly allied to it, but which on comparison will be found to present many
specific differences.
Its range extends over most parts of Brazil from the River Plate to the Amazon; some localities being of
course more especially adapted to its habits than others.
An interesting account of this bird having been kindly sent me by His Highness Maximilian Prince of
Weid, I here transcribe it nearly in his own words. “ This bird is called Capueira by the Brazilians. Its
habits and mode of life are very similar to those of the Hazel Grouse or Gelinotte ( Bonasa sylvestris). It
never frequents the open country, but confines itself entirely to the thick woods. In the early part of
the year the Capueira lives in pairs, and after the breeding-season the families remain in coveys of from
ten to sixteen or more in number. They run very quickly, and procure their food among the dry leaves
on the ground in the midst of the extensive woods; the stomachs of those I examined contained fruits,
berries, insects, small stones and a little sand. The part of the country in which I met with this bird is
the eastern portion of southern Brazil, from Rio de Janeiro to the thirteenth degree of south latitude;
by Spix it appears to have been found still farther north. In the vast forests bordering the rivers Mucuri,
Alcobaca, Belmonte and Ilheo’s the Capueira was very common, and we frequently killed them for the sake
of their flesh, which is excellent. Its loud and remarkable voice is only heard in the forests, where it reverberates
to a great distance. Azara states that the cry is uttered by both sexes, but I believe it is emitted
by the male bird only. Like the Domestic Cock in Europe it frequently aroused us at break of day, bidding
us as it were to continue our researches among the grand but almost impenetrable forests of that magnificent
country. It commenced calling before daybreak, thus affording us ample time for breakfasting, and
enabling us to start by the dawn of the young day.
“ Azara tells us that the voice of the Capueira consists of two notes ; but on this point he is incorrect,
as it comprises three or four notes which are frequently and very quickly repeated, and which may be thus
explained:—
“ During the morning and evening twilight the Capueiras perch on a branch in a line very near to each
other, and at this time the male birds frequently give utterance to their cry, which Azara states to resemble