THE GOLD-BREASTED TRUMPETER. 291 



The Trumpeter is easily tamed, and always becomes atticliei to 

 its benefactor. When bred up in the house, it loads its master with 

 caresses, and follows his motions ; and, if it conceive a dislike to per 

 sons on account of their forbidding figure, or of injuries received, it 

 will pursue them sometimes to a considerable distance, biting their 

 legs, and testifying every mark of displeasure. It obeys the voice ot 

 its master, and even answers to the call of others to whom it bears no 

 il'-will. It is fond of caresses, and offers its head and neck to he 

 stroked; and if once accustomed to these familiarities, it becorres 

 trouV)lesorae, and will not be satisfied without continual fondling. Jt 

 makes its appearance as often as its master sits down to table, and 

 begins by driving out the dogs and cats from the room ; for it is so 

 (»bstinate and bold, that it never yields, but, often, after a tough battle, 

 will put even a middle-sized dog to flight. It avoids the biles of ii^ 

 antagonist by rising in the air ; and retaliates with vii)k'nt blows of 

 its bill and claws, aimed chiefly at the eyes. After it gains the 

 superiority, it pursues its victory with the utmost rancor, and if not 

 taken off, will destroy the fugitive. By its intercourse with man, its 

 instincts become moulded like those of dogs ; and we are assure«l 

 that it can be trained to attend a flock of sheep. It even shows a 

 degree of jealousy of its human rivals; for when at table, it bites 

 fiercely the naked legs of the negroes aud other domestics who 

 approach its master. 



Nearly all these birds have a habit of following people through 

 the streets, and out of town ; even those whom they have never seen 

 before. It is difficult to get rid of them ; if a person enter a house, 

 they will wait his return, and again join him, though after an interval 

 of two or three hours. I have sometimes, (says M. tie la Borde) be- 

 taken myself to my heels; but they ran faster, and always got before 

 me; and when I stopped they stopped also. 1 know one that invaria- 

 bly follows all the strangers who enter its master's house, accompanies 

 them into the garden, takes as many turns there as they do, and 

 attends them back again. 



In a state of nature this bird inhabits the arid mountains and 

 upland forests of South America; never visiting the clear grounds, 

 nor the settlements. It associates in numerous flocks. It walks aud 

 runs, rather than flies ; for it never rises more than a few feet from 

 the ground, and then only to reach some short distance, or to gain 

 some low branch. It feeds on wild fruits ; and, when surprised in its 

 haunts, makes its escape by the swiftness of its feet, at the s^me time 

 emitting a shrill crv not unlike that of a Turkey. 



It walks out alone without any danger of losing itself, and it is 

 asserted that it will drive ducks and fowls to their feeding-place in the 

 morning and bring tiieni home at night, carefully collecting any strag- 

 glers. As for tiie bird itself it is never shut up, but sleeps just where 

 it ])leases, upon the roof of a barn or in the farmyard. Its trumpeting 

 is described as resembling the sound produced by a person endeavoring 

 to pronounce " ton, ton, ton ; ton, ton, ton," with his mouth shut, or 

 the doleful noise made by the Dutch bakers, who blow a glass trumpet 

 to inform their customers wheu their bread is taken out o-f the oven. 

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