in ornithology, a genus of birds belonging to the order of grallae; the characters of which are: The bill is tapering and a little obtuse; the nostrils are oval, and situated in the middle of the bill; the forehead is covered with fleshy caruncles, which are lobated; the wings are small, and spinous. There are five species; of which the most remarkable is the chavaria, which is about the size of the domestic cock. The Indians in the neighbourhood of Carthagena, who breed large flocks of poultry that stray in the woods, train up the chavaria to defend them against the numerous birds of prey, no one of which will dare to encounter it. It is never known to desert the flock, and it returns every evening to roost.

The parra Dominica is about the size of the lapwing. The bill is yellow, as are also the head and upper parts; the under are of a yellowish white bordering on rose colour. The legs are also yellow. This species inhabits several of the warmer parts of America and St Domingo. The parra senegalla is about the same size with the former. Its bill is also yellow tipped with black; the forehead is covered with a yellow skin; the chin and throat are black; the head and upper parts of the body and lesser wing-coverts are grey-brown. The lower part of the belly, and the upper and under tail-coverts are dirty white. At the bend of the wing is a black spur. It inhabits Senegal, and thence derives its name. The negroes call them Uett Uett, the French the squallers, because, as we are told, as soon as they see a man they scream and fly off. They always fly in pairs. The parra jacana, or spur-winged water-hen, is about the size of the water-rail. The bill is in length about an inch and a quarter, of an orange colour; and on the forehead is a membranous flap half an inch long and nearly as broad. On each side of the head also is another of the same, about a quarter of an inch broad, and both together they surround the base of the bill. The head, throat, neck, breast, and under-

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(A) The author of a book entitled Long Lives, 8vo, 1722, which Oldys in his MS. notes on Fuller ascribes to one Robert Sambro, against all evidence says, p. 89, that Parr died fifteen years after he had been presented to the King, 24th of November 1651. parts, are black; and sometimes the belly is mixed with white, &c. The birds of this species inhabit Brazil, Guiana, and Surinam; but are equally common at St Domingo, where they frequent the marshy places, sides of ponds, and streams, and wade quite up to the thighs in the water. They are also generally seen in pairs, and when separated call each other continually till they join again. They are very shy, and most common in the rainy seasons in May and November. They are at all times very noisy; their cry sharp and shrill, and may be heard a great way off. This, as well as the other species, is called by the French chirurgien. The flesh is accounted pretty good. The parra variabilis, or spur-winged water-hen, is about nine inches long. The bill is about 14 inches in length, and in colour is orange-yellow. On the forehead is a flap of red skin; the crown of the head is brown, marked with spots of a darker colour; the hind part of the neck is much the same, but of a deeper dye. The sides of the head, throat, forepart of the neck, breast, belly, thighs, and under-tail coverts are white, with a few red spots on the sides of the belly and base of the thighs. On the forepart of the wing is a yellow spur, &c. The legs are furnished with long toes, as in all the others, the colour of which is bluish ash. Mr Latham says, that one which came under his inspection from Cayenne was rather smaller. It had the upper parts much paler; over the eye was a streak of white passing no further, and unaccompanied by a black one. The hind part of the neck was dingy black. It had only the rudiment of a spur; and the red caruncle on the forehead was less, and laid back on the forehead. From these differences this learned ornithologist conceives it to have differed either in sex or age from the other. This species inhabits Brazil, and is said to be pretty common about Carthagena and in South America. The parra chavaria is, as we have already observed, about the size of a dunghill cock, and stands a foot and a half from the ground. The bill is of a dirty white colour; the upper mandible similar to that in a dunghill cock; the nostrils are oblong, pervious; on both sides, at the base of the bill, is a red membrane, which extends to the temples. The irides are brown. On the hind head are about 12 blackish feathers, three inches in length, forming a crest and hanging downwards. The rest of the neck is covered with a thick black down. The body is brown, and the wings and tail inclined to black. On the bend of the wing are two or three spurs half an inch long. The belly is a light black. The thighs are half bare of feathers. The legs are very long, and of a yellow red colour. The toes are so long as to entangle one another in walking.

"This species inhabits the lakes, &c. near the river Cinu, about 30 leagues from Carthagena, in South America, and is said to feed on vegetables. Its gait is solemn and slow; but it flies easily and swiftly. It cannot run, unless assisted by the wings at the same time. When any part of the skin is touched by the hand, a crackling is felt, though it is very downy beneath the feathers; and indeed this down adheres so closely as to enable the bird at times to swim. The voice is clear and loud, but far from agreeable. The natives, who keep poultry in great numbers, have one of these tame, which goes along with the flock about the neighbourhood to feed during the day, when this faithful shepherd defends them against birds of prey; being able, by means of the spurs on the wings, to drive off birds as big as the carrion vulture, and even that bird itself. It is so far of the greatest use, as it never deserts the charge committed to its care, bringing them all home safe at night. It is so tame as to suffer itself to be handled by a grown person; but will not permit children to attempt the same.—For the above account we are indebted to Linnaeus, who seems to be the only one who has given any account of this wonderful bird." See Latham's Synopsis.