556 HABITS OF THE AUSTRALIAN JABIRU. 



" Wlien he was first placed in the yard where some poultry were kept, he stared at the 

 fowls, and they ran away on his approach, although he did not make the least attempt to 

 molest them ; and when striding round the yard, all the poultry fled before him, although it 

 did not appear to be an intentional chase on his part. 



" There happened to be a j)ugnacious fussy little bantam-cock in the yard, who would not 

 permit the intrusion of any stranger, and on seeing the Jabiru, he strutted up with expanded 

 and fluttering wings and ruffled featliers in a violent state of excitement, cackling and scream- 

 ing most vehemently, and making eftorts as energetic as so diminutive a bird was capable of, 

 to frighten and drive him out of the yard. The Jabiru with his keen bright eyes regarded the 

 little fluttering object with cool contempt, and walked about as before ; the bantam followed. 

 At last the Jabiru turned and strode after the consequential little urchin as if to crush him under 

 his feet ; when the bantam, seeing matters take this serious turn, made off as fast as possible, 

 like all little bullies, and did not again venture to attack so formidable an opponent. In a few 

 days the Jabiru became quite domesticated among the poidtry, and tliey evinced no fear ; even 

 the little bantam tolerated his presence, but. whether from fear or affection I know not. 



"This bird is as tame as my ISTative Companion when in captivity, but it Avill not follow 

 any one about as that bird will, nor has it uttered any sound ; it seems to be voiceless. 



"The bird appears timid when any one is looking at him from a short distance, and he 

 then watches acutely all the actions of the intruder ; but when startled by any one coming 

 suddenly upon him, he appears frightened, and spreads his wings as if prei^ai-ing for flight ; it 

 is then possible, by a little activity, to capture him by his long bill and wings. When the 

 mooruks came too close to him, he looked at them with flashing eyes, and flapped his wings as 

 if to express his contempt towards them on account of their wingless condition, and at the 

 same time the mooruks sjjread their rudimentary wings, as if to show that they have some 

 stumps resembling wings, and appeared proud of their appendages also. 



"Allien the Jabiru was sunning himself as usual, and any of the mooruks came between 

 him and the sun, he manifested great indignation at their intrusion by clattering his beak, 

 ruffling his feathers, and flapping his wings at them ; if these hints were disregarded, he gave 

 them a blow with his beak, which soon made them walk away. 



" The Jabiru was occasionally observed lying upon its breast, with its legs doubled up 

 underneath so as to resemble a large goose with a most disproportionate size of bill. I have 

 Doticed him watch the ground very attentively under the trees, and then dart his bill into the 

 ground and bring up larvfe, which I found to be tliose of the locusts {Tettigonia, or Tree- 

 hoppers). When the bird observed a slight motion of the soil, he darted his beak down and 

 devoured the insect as it was emerging from the soil. On any of these insects falling fi'om the 

 trees upon the gi-ound, lie would rapidly pick them up and devour them. On giving him one, 

 he first crunched it between his mandibles, and thi'owing it up caught and devoured it. He 

 appeared to relish these insects very much, and was eager to procure them. 



"He became latterly so familiar and domesticated that he would permit the person who 

 was in the habit of feeding him to touch and examine his plumage and wings. When called 

 to be fed, he ran from any part of the yai'd, and so regular was he in his habits, that when not 

 called at the usual hour, he would stand at the place where he was accustomed to be fed, until 

 his meat was given to him. When the person who fed him called him, he clapped his mandi- 

 bles and ran up. He seemed to delight in standing in the rain, and did not appear in the least 

 uncomfortable when his feathers were dripping w^et. He frequently slept in the open aii- all 

 night, preferring it to the shelter of the coach-house. He strutted about the yard a long time 

 after dark. When caught by the \vings or otherwise annoyed, he displayed his anger by no 

 other sound than a loud and violent clattering of the mandibles, nor did he attempt any act of 

 aggression upon liis captors with his powerful beak. He would often run about the yardj 

 spreading and fluttering his wings, merely for exercise." 



The Australian Jabiru appears to be a very rare bird ; and as it is extremely wary, and 

 haunts wide expanses where but little cover can be found, it can with difficulty be approached. 

 The natives, with their eagle eyes, their snake-like movements, and the exhaustless patience of . 



