()8G HABITS OF THE AUSTRALIAN JABIEU. 



head, its eyes became very bright, it ruffled its feathers, and chattered its mandibles, as if 

 about to try their sword-like edge upon the intruding mooruks, but the anger subsided 

 without further demonstration than an occasional flapping of its powerful wings. One 

 day, however, on one of the mooruks approaching too near him, he seized it by the neck 

 with his mandibles, on which the mooruk ran away and did not appear in any way 

 injured. 



When 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 pugnacious, fussy little bantam-cock in the yard, who w^ould 

 not permit the intrusion of any stranger, and on seeing the Jabiru, he strutted up with 

 expanded and fluttering wings and ruffled feathers in a violent state of excitement, 

 cackling and screaming most vehemently, and making efforts as energetic as so diminutive 

 a bird was capable of, to frighten and drive him out of the y^ard. 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 conse- 

 quential 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 poultry, and they 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 Native Companion when in captivity, but it will 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 S])reads his wings as if preparing 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 spread their rudimentary wings, as if to show 

 that they^ have some stumps resembling wings, and appeared proud of their appendages 

 also. 



Wlien the Jabiru was suiming himself as usual, and any of the mooruks came between 

 liim 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 noticed him watch the ground very attentively under the trees, and then dart his bill 

 into the ground and bring up larvae, which I found to be those of locusts {Tettigonice, or 

 Treehoppers). 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 from the trees upon the ground, he would rapidly pick them up and devour 

 them. On giving him one, he first crunched it between his mandibles, and throwing 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 woukl 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 yard, 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 accus- 

 tomed to be fed, until his meat was given to him. AVhen the person who fed him called 

 him, he clapped his mandibles 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 wet. He 

 frequently slept in the open air all night, preferring it to the shelter of the coach-house. 



