The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-03-22
A FEATHERED NOTABLE.
ONE OF THE RAREST BIRDS
FOUND IN CAPTIVITY.
Sprung from Primary Stock-Chakar
is an Avian Puzzle to the Scientists
Who Agree, However, That Its An
cestry is Entirely Ancient.

The recent death of the crested
screamer, or chakar, at the United
States Geological Park, says Wash
ington correspondent of the New York
Sun, calls attention to what is Ill
many respects the most 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 national park but its voice is
hushed forever. Voice was one of it's
strongest points, as might be inferred
from it's name.
The specimen was procured by Or.
Frank Baker some years ago, and has
been an object of admiration for thou
sands of people who have visited the
park, although few knew how rare the
the bird was in captivity or Of its
problematic pedigree.
The crested screamer is from the
South American pampas, where it was
ence found in countless numbers; but,
as Professor Hudson, the naturalist,
says, ut is passing before a higher
civilization, the pitiless enemy of all
bird life" The chakar, it seems, does
not thrive in captivity, although OF
domestic characteristics when free on
the Southern plains. There are specf-
mems in Regents Park London and
possibly one in the Geological Park in
New York.
About the size Of a swan, a pale
slaty blue in color, with two spurs on
each wing, evidently for protection in
combat, it is both beautiful and pic
turesque. The order to which it be-
longs is a subject of controversy
among the great authorities.
Professors Parker ana Huxlew place
it with the geese while the late Pro-
fessor Garrod, to quote from DR. Hud-
son, the La Plata naturalist, found
for various reasons that the cIhakar
could not be classed with the anserine
birds; that it must have sprung from
the primary avian stock when there
occurred a general breakup of the an
cient terrestrial bird type, and when
the acquisition Of wings brought many
intruders into domains already CSccu-
pied, giving rise to new struggle for
existence, and bringing out many spe-
cial qualities by means of natural Sc
lection.
But all authorities agree that the
bird appears to be the last descendant
OF an ancient family win few or no
connections fact, with a pedigree
lost in the Mgnt of incalculable an
tiquity
The chakar does not seem to have
any prototypes, and for this reason
Professor HUDSON says: This bird
appeals to sa& aesthetic feelings in
man more than any species with
which I am acquainted" The voice
of this bird is it's chief Characteristic
and Professor Hudson, who reported
some years ago on the pampaS OF
South America, said: Although ac-
customed to hearing these birds from
childhood, | have often been aston.
ished at some new effect produced 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 con-
cert, In which there is said to be
something strangely impressive
Speaking of one of these concerts,
DR.. Hudson says;
1--WE were eating supper in rancho
when suddenly the entire multitude OF
birds, covering the marsh for miles,
burst forth into a tremendous eve
ming song. 1t is impossible to de-
scribe the effect of this mighty rush
OF sound, but let the reader try to
imagine half million voices, each
far more powerful than tpAs one
which makes itself heard all over Re-
gents Park, bursting forth on the ST.