THE Q ARIA MA. 



533 





GOLDEN-BREASTED TBUMPETEK. Psophia crepitane. 



wings. The wings, under surface, and tail are black, and the feathers of the tail are soft 

 and short. 



THE QARIAMA is rather larger than the trumpeter, and has many of the same habits. It 

 is chiefly remarkable for the feathery crest on the crown and forehead. Its picture is given on 

 the next page. . . 



The Qariama is an admirable runner, getting over the ground with astonishing speed, and 

 turning and twisting with such adroit rapidity that even the admirable horsemen of its native 

 land find it put their skill to the sharpest test. Not until it is quite wearied out, and crouches 

 under a bush or other shelter, does the hunter endeavor to use either rifle or lasso, the two 

 deadly weapons of his land. The walk of this bird is peculiarly bold and easy, its paces are 

 long, its lithe neck moves with every step as it continually turns its little sharp-looking head 

 from side to side, and its full intelligent eyes gleam through their heavy lashes as they survey 

 every object within their ken. The eyes are truly beautiful, large, round, and translucent, of a 

 clear pearly-gray, with many little dark changing spots, much like the eye of a living dragon-fly. 



It is easily tamed, and soon becomes so attached to its new home that it is accustomed to 

 roam about at will, and to return to its owner like the common fowl. The nest of this bird is 

 placed upon the branches of a rather low tree, is made of sticks, and generally contains two 

 white eggs. 



The general color of the Qariama is pale brown, with numerous irregular splashes of dark 

 brown. The crest is always held erect, and the feathers of the forehead project slightly over 

 the beak. The wing is blacker brown than the rest of the body, and is covered with narrow 

 white streaks, dotted with black. The under parts are grayish-white, the bill is red, and the 

 legs orange. In total length it measures about thirty-two inches. 



ALTHOUGH in former days tolerably common all over Europe, the CRANE has now, with 

 the bustard, almost disappeared from the northern countries of the Eastern hemisphere. A 



