The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-02
BIRD OF VERY LONG DESCENT,
VOICE or TIE CRESTED SCREAM
Err rs HUSHED.

It Had q Pedigree Lost in the Might or m.
c~alculable Antiquity In Fact, II he.
Ionged 20 About the oldest Bird Family
Few Specimens Seen In Captivity,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The recent death
OF the crested screamer, or chakar, at ths
United States Geological Park. calls attsr-
ton to what is in many respects the mos,
interesting species among the feathered
notables.
For several years this bird. perhaps the
rarest in all the geological parks Of the
world, could be seen and heard in the Ma
tional Park but it's voice is hushed forever,
Voice was one Of its strongest points, al
might be inferred from its name.
The specimen was procursA ~ Or. Frank
Baker some years ago, AMI has been an
object OF admiration for thousands OF
people who have visited the park, although
few knew how rare the bird was in CAPTIVE
ity or Of its problematic pedigree.
The crested screamer is from the South
American pampas, where IL was once found
in countless numbers; but, as Professor
Hudson, the naturalist, says, 1T is passing
before a higher civilization, the pitiless
enemy Of all bird life" The chakar, ID
seems, does not thrive in captivity, al.
though OF domestic characteristics when
! free on the southern plains. There are
specimens in Regents Park, London, and
possibly one in the geological park in
New York.
About the size Of the swan, q pale slaty
blue in color, with two spurs on each NingI
evidently for protectioni in combat, it lis both
beautiful and picturesque. The order to
which It belongs lie a subject Of controversy
among the great authorities.
Professors Parker and Huxley place Il
with the geese. while the late Prof.
Oarrod, to quote from DR.. Hudson, the
La Plata naturalist. found for various rea-
sons that the chakar could not be classed
with the anserine birds; that it must have
sprung from the primary avian stock when
there occurred n general breakup of the
ancient terrestrial bird type, and when
the acquisition OF wings brought many in
truders into domains already occupied,
giving rise to a new struggle for existence.
and bringing out many special qualities
by means Of natural selection.
But all authorities agree that the bird
appears 10 be the last descendant OF an
ancient family with few or no connections
in fact, with a pedigree lost in the night
Of incalculable antiquity.
The chakar does not seem to have any
prototypes, and for this reason Prof.
Hudson says: This bird appeals to the
aesthetic feelings in man more than any
species with which I am acquainted" The
voice OF this bird is its chief characteristic
and Prof. Hudson, who reported some
years ago on the pampas OF South America.
said: Although accustomed to hearing
these birds from childhood. l have often
been astonished at some new effect pro-
duced by a large number singing under
certain conditions"
On their native plains the chakars often
assemble in immense fiocks, and in those
gatherings all sing in concert, in which
there is said to be something strangely
impressive. Speaking OF n Of these
concerts, DR.. Hudson nays:
We were eating supper in a rancho when
suddenly the entire multitude OF birds,
covering the marsh for miles. burst forth
into a tremendous evening song. 1t is
impossible to describe the effect OF. this
mighty rush of sound, but let the reader
try to imagine half a million voices, each
far more powerful than that one which
makes itself heard all over Regents Park,
bursting forth on the silent atmosphere
of that dark and lonely plain. Il was over
come with astonishment, while the air.
and even the frail rancho, seemed TO be
trembling in that transport Of sound
On their native pampas these birds sing
at intervals during the night. The first
song is at 0 O'Clock, the second at midnight.
and the third just before dawn.