Object Status:
Unlocated
Accession Date:
May 21, 1789
Primary Source Reference:
Pennsylvania Packet (Philadelphia), 21 May 1789
Additional Source Text:
"Its size is between that of the dunghill fowl and the turkey."
The donor was "Hon. Consul from Holland for Maryland."
Freeman's Journal (Philadelphia), 11 Nov 1789 records that it is alive.
Notes:
The black curassow (Crax alector), also known as the powis or smooth-billed curassow and the crested curassow, is a species of bird in the family Cracidae, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows.
Adrian Valck was Dutch Consul for Maryland and Virginia from 1784. (Adams Papers, Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-12-02-0241-0002 )
Specimen Type:
Live (presumably eventually taxidermied/preserved)
Peale's Common Name:
Powese
Current Common Name:
Black curassow
Current Scientific Name
Crax alector
