190 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
birds are the scavengers of the earth, lending their aid to make it a 
fit residence for man. 
_. In former days falconry afforded a popular and noble sport for 
the great, in which lords and noble dames assisted. This pastime 
still exists in England and some portions of the East, especially in 
Persia, where the falcon is trained to chase the gazelle; while in 
China and Japan the cormorant and pelican are taught to fish the 
rivers for their masters. From very ancient times, the carrier pigeon 
was the bearer of messages now transmitted along the electric wires 
with lightning speed: the late siege of Paris brought them again 
into use. 
Nor do these benefits comprise all the claims of birds on the 
gratitude of man. In tropical America the Agami or Trumpeter is 
domesticated, and so docile in its habits, that it is employed to 
watch the flocks, which it does with the fidelity and intelligence of 
a dog. “The Agami,” says M. Monocour, “is not only tamed 
easily, but becomes attached to its benefactor with all the fondness 
and fidelity of a dog. When bred in the house, it loads the master 
with caresses, and follows all his motions with affection.” It is 
bold and obstinate, and will attack cats and dogs, fighting a tough 
battle with one of the latter, however considerable his size. In 
Cayenne the denizens of the poultry-yard are confided to its care ; 
it leads them to their pasture, prevents them from straying to a 
dangerous distance, and brings them home in the evening, just as a 
trained shepherd’s dog will do the flocks committed to his care, and 
it manifests its delight by cries of joy when its master vouchsafes a 
caress in return for its faithful service. The Cariami, which belongs, 
like the Agami, to the same order, possesses similar characteristic in- 
telligence. Like the former, it is sociable and susceptible of educa- 
tion, and bécomes a most useful auxiliary to the inhabitants of South 
America. 
After these brief remarks on the organisation and habits of Birds, 
we proceed to describe the more remarkable species, arranged ac- 
cording to a simple and comprehensive classification, placing before 
the reader the various orders of the class Aves, in the ascending scale 
which has been adopted in our previous works. 
AVES— BIRDS. 
Warm-blooded, vertebrated, biped animals. ecforal limbs, fore- 
arms or wings organised for flight ; feathery z#/egument,; red blood; 
resptration and circulation double ; Zungs fixed and perforated. 
