43 6 C U R U C U I.
but brown, and the red colour does not extend fo high as
the bread.
i.
V ar . A.
Avis anonyma tertia, Marc. Hiß. Braf. p. 219. *
D escription. J M A R C G R A V F alfo mentions another, which differs in having
the wing coverts plain brown : the bill alh-coloured : irides
faffron-colour, and wanting the bare fpot beneath the eyes,
which Brijfon gives his bird in the defcription.
F emale. This is probably a female likewile.
V ar. B.
Couroucou gris ä longue queue de Cayenne, Buf. oif. vi. p. 288.— BU
tnl. 737.
D escription. D U F F O N alfo mentions a further variety. The bill in this fpe-
cimen was the fame in lhape and colour: almoft the whole
bird was of a cinereous grey, but on infpedlion fome traees o f
green gold were very apparent, efpecially on the back and middle
tail feathers: the lower part of the belly and vent only were
red: and the tail itfelf very long; the three outfide feathers of
which had the outer webs and tips plain white •, the three outer
quills were alfo marked with black and white on the outer
P lace and
M anners.
edges.
This came from Cayenne.
The nature of thefe birds is to lead a folitary life in the
thickefl: forefts, efpecially in pairing-time, when only two are
found together. At this time the male has a kind of melancholy
note,
5
C U R U C U I. 4*7
nete,. (for at other times he is perfeftly mute *,) by which the
haunts are difcovered. They begin to pair in April, and build in
the hole of a rotten tree, laying three or four white eggs, about
as big as thole of a Pigeon, on the bare rotten dull -, in defeft of
this rotten matter, they are faid to bruife even found wood into
powder with their bill, which being fufficiently ftrong and toothed,
may readily be fuppofed fully able to effeft this. During the
incubation of the female, the male takes care to provide food for
her, and by his trivial fong, pleafant no doubt to her, to beguile
the time, which,, without fuch incitements,, might feem too long.
■— The young, when firft hatched, are quite bare of feathers ; the
head feems large, out of all proportion,- and the legs, though
fliort in the adult, feem too long. The parents feed thefe with
fmall worms, caterpillars, and infects -, and, when able to fhifc for
themfelves,. forfake them, and return to their folitary haunts,,
till nature prompts them to produce their fécond brood, in
Aug&fi- and September.
It has been tried to bring up thefe birds tame, but without
effeét, for they refulh to- eat, and die in confequence,- Ivlonjleur
Dejhayes,. to whom we are indebted for the above, obferves, that
they are called at St. Domingo, Le Caleçon rouge,, and in other
iflands, Demoifelle,. or. Dame angloife..
* They never make any noife except while the female is fitting, for the
moment the young are hatched, they again become float.
Trogotj.