THE FARMER AT HOME. 437 



of perfect plants, by the decay of leaves, and, ultimately by the decay 

 of trunks and branches. The water of a country, the rivers and 

 lakes, are invariably affected by the state of the woods of that country. 

 These woods, and their mossy beds, must, in all cases, act more or less 

 as sponge in retaining the water which falls on them ; and water 

 must thus be supplied more gradually to the rivers, in countries 

 covered with wood, than in those which are cleared and regularly 

 drained. 



TROUT. A delicate fish, abounding in the rivers and ponds of 

 England, and weighing from four to twenty-five pounds. They weigh 

 less in the United States. It has a short roundish head, and wide 

 mouth, filled with teeth, which cover the palate and tongue, the scales 

 are small, the back ash-colored, the sides yellowish, and, when in 

 season, it is sprinkled all over the body with small, beautiful red and 

 black spots. These fish abound in small brooks and ponds ; anglers 

 use worms or artificial flies as baits to take them. 



TRUMPETER. A South American bird, about as large as a 

 domestic fowl, referred by naturalists to the waders, of which it has 

 the long neck arid legs ; but it possesses many characters in common 

 with gallinaceous birds. The feathers of the throat and the upper 

 part of the breast have the most brilliant reflections of green, gold, 

 blue, and violet ; the other parts of the body are black, except the 

 middle of the back and lesser coverts, which are reddish, and the 

 greater coverts of the wings and tail, which are ash-colored. In the 

 wild state this bird is found only in the mountainous and woody dis- 

 tricts of the hottest parts of South America, where it lives on fruits. 

 It runs swiftly, sometimes walks with a slow pace, or leaps. Its wings 

 and tail are very short, and its flight clumsy. The name has been 

 applied on account of the note which it utters. It is easily tamed, 

 and shows as muoh attachment and fidelity to its master as a dog. 

 It obeys his voice, caresses and follows him, and recognises him after 

 a long absence. It drives away all strange animals, and fears neither 

 cat nor dog. Those which live in the streets of Cayenne will often 

 attach themselves to a stranger, and follow him wherever he goes. 

 In short, these birds are superior to all others in intelligence and social 

 disposition ; and it would be desirable to naturalize them in. our 

 climate, an experiment which has never been fairly tried, that we 

 are aware of. It is said that flocks of sheep are confided to their 

 charge, and that they constantly bring them home every evening. It 

 is certain that the care of poultry may be safely entrusted to them. 



TUNNEL. This term, in civil engineering, denotes an arched 

 passage formed under ground to conduct a canal or road on a lower 

 level than the natural surface. Long tunnels are usually made 

 through hills, to avoid the inconvenience and loss of power occasioned 

 by conducting a canal, road, or railway over elevated ground, and 

 also the enormous expense of such an open excavation as would be 



