“Indeed, the volubility and singularity of voice of the _poliocephala_ is perhaps its most striking and remarkable trait—at least, it so appeared to me. In illustration of which I will state that, while on the march from Matamoras to Tampico, we had encamped on the 30th December, at the spring of _Encinal_, whence, a short time before sunset, I rode out in company with an officer in search of game. We were passing through a woodland near the stream, when our ears were saluted with a strange sound that resembled somewhat the cry of the panther (_Felis onca_). We stopped our horses and listened—the cry was repeated, and we were completely at a loss to what animal to ascribe it. I dismounted, and having crawled cautiously through the thicket for some distance, came upon an opening where there were some larger trees; from the lower branches of one of which I now ascertained that the sound proceeded. In a moment or two I discovered a large male _poliocephala_ ascending towards the top of the tree, and uttering this hitherto unheard sound as he sprang from branch to branch in mounting to his roost. He seemed to be much occupied with his own thoughts, and did not observe me; and therefore I was enabled to watch his movements. In a few moments his call was answered from a distance, and soon afterwards he was joined by a bird of the year. Others followed, coming in from different quarters; and there were, in a little while, five or six of them upon the tree. One of these now discovered me, and the alarm was given. The singular cry of the old bird ceased, and they all began to exhibit uneasiness and a disposition to fly; whereupon I shot the old bird, as I had resolved to secure him at all events. On rejoining my companion, he could not at first believe me to be serious, when I told him the sound we had heard had proceeded from the old cock that I presented to him, and who had been calling his family together at the close of day in the manner I have described. On my return to camp, I entered in my note-book the following description which I took from this bird:— “Length 23 inches, 6 lines; alar stretch, 26 inches; tail, 11 inches; tarsus, 2 inches, 7 lines. The bill similar to that of the common fowl, but longer on the ridge and more curved at the point; the upper mandible light slate blue, the lower yellowish, but brown near the base; legs and feet blackish slate color; the nails black; the irides dark hazel; the chin devoid of feathers, and its skin, which is of an orange-red color, approximating in looseness to the gills of the common fowl; general color above, a brownish olive, with dark green reflections, deepest on the head; breast and belly light rufous, with whitish longitudinal pencillings; tail (of twelve feathers) darker than the back, and with a broad terminal band of dull white; wings dusky olive. A male; a very fine specimen, killed near Encinal, Dec. 30, 1846.