1 . . ' 



THE TRUMPETER. S21 



Peculiar sounds Easily tamed. 



The most remarkable characteristic of these 

 birds consists in the wonderful noise which they 

 often make, either of their own accord, or when, 

 urged by their keepers. To induce them to this, 

 it is sometimes necessary to entice the bird with 

 a bit of bread to come near; and then making 

 the same kind of sound, which the keepers can 

 well imitate, the bird will frequently be disposed 

 to repeat it. This equivocal noise, which some- 

 what resembles the moan of pigeons, is at times 

 preceded by a savage cry, interrupted by a sound 

 approaching that of scherck, scherck. In this way, 

 the bird utters five, six, or seven times, with pre- 

 cipitation, a hollow voice emitted from within 

 its body, nearly as if one pronounced toil, ton, tou, 

 tou, tou, ton, with the mouth shut, resting upon 

 the last tou a very long time, and terminating 

 by sinking gradually with the same note. This 

 sound also much resembles the lengthend dole- 

 ful noise which the Dutch bakers make by blow- 

 ing a glass trumpet, to inform their customers 

 when the bread comes out of the oven. This 

 odd sort of tone is probably owing to the extent 

 of the bird's lungs, and the capacity of their 

 inembranaceous cells: and it. may probably be 

 communicated through the muscles and tegu- 

 ments of its body, for their appears no proof that; 

 it proceeds from its mouth to the external air, 

 which conveys the impulse to the ear. 



The trumpeter is easily tamed, and always be- 

 comes attached to its benefactor. " Having/'- 



VOL. in. NO. xxii. 2 s 



