442 GRALLATORES. 



liar noisy cry, which has procured them the name 

 of ^' Trumpeter." If d.isturl)ed, they seek safety 

 by running with expanded wings. The nest is 

 usually formed on the ground at the foot of a tree ; 

 the eggs are two in number. 



The typical species — 



Tlie Gold-breasted Trumpeter {Psophia crepitans), 

 called al«() the Agami, is au iiihal)itant of the Antilles, 

 and of the tropical parts of South America. In its wild 

 state, it inhabits the densest recesses of the forests, fai* 

 remote from all human habitations : here it resides in 

 small flocks, consisting of ten or twelve individuals, and 

 feeds upon wild fruits and seeds. It walks and runs 

 much better than it can fly ; indeed its flight is so heavy 

 that it seldom rises more than a few feet from the ground. 

 Like the Stork, it sleeps while standing upon one leg, 

 keeping its head drawn back between its shoulders. 

 When suddenly surprised, it runs away with great swift- 

 ness, uttering a sharp cry, resembling that of a Turkey. 

 Its most striking characteristic, however, is the loud 

 and trumpet-like sound which it sometimes produces, six 

 or seven times in succession, without oijenmg its beak, a 

 sound so deej) and sonorous that it seems to proceed from 

 its whole body. This noise results, according to Pallas, 

 from a Y>eculiar construction of the wind-pipe, which is 

 at first as thick as a swan's quill, but becomes more slen- 

 der as it enters the chest, when it gives ofl" two mem- 

 branous semicircular sacs, or air-bags, of which that on 

 the right is the more extensive, and divided into three or 

 four cells. The hollow internal drumming, preceded by 

 a wild cry, is evidently produced by the vibration of the 

 air forced into these air-bags from the lungs by the action 

 of the muscles of the chest and back. During the per- 

 formance the chest heaves, as in birds when singing. 



The Agami, when under the protection of man, soon 

 becomes exceedingly tame and familiar ; indeed, it seems 

 to have an instinctive love for human society. It repre- 

 sents among the featliered races what the Dog is amongst 

 quadrupeds, and appears equally susceptible of aflectionate 

 attachment. It obeys the voice of its master, follows 

 him wherever he goes, and apj>ears delighted at receiving 



