32



On the Trumpeter Bird.



from the Aborigines. At any rate he assists energetically in

driving up the Crowned Crane, jumping up at his head from one

side to the other and even springing on to the Crane’s back and

pecking violently at the crest feathers if the Crane tries to dodge

back, but he, I am glad to say, has lately had the sense to go to

bed earlier and goes to the far end of the house which the two

birds share. Like the Cranes, the Trumpeter roosts standing on

one leg, but not on the ground. He climbs into a pear tree, and

is anxious to remain out, but, acting on advice, I harden my

heart and take him down by force in spite of kicks and struggles.

As a compromise, I have had the branch he prefers cut from the

tree and put into his house. Referring again to the Trumpeter’s

pluck I have seen it make a rush at a cat and even at a small dog,

but fortunately their owners came to the rescue. Also he had a

fight with my Swinhoe Pheasant and came off with a bleeding

head. The photograph gives an excellent idea of his appearance.

He is not larger than a fowl, but his legs and neck being so

much longer make him appear tall. The whole plumage is black

except a sprinkling of feathers on the neck and breast which are

tipped with green changing into violet, according to the light.

The little soft round head looks as if covered with black plush or

velvet. Across the middle of the back and wing coverts is a

brownish patch, which passes into ash colour lower down. The

legs are very faintly tinged with green. The voice of the

Trumpeter is most peculiar, a sort of low hollow sound made

with the beak shut, when the bird is excited.


I give it grasshoppers, centipedes, caterpillars, and all the

insects I can get, as it prefers them to any food. Also worms, of

which it will eat any quantity. It also has boiled rice and hard-

boiled eggs. Occasionally a little potatoe and banana.


It is a very clean bird, and follows me into the house and

from one room to another, often perching on chairs and tables,

where it stands preening itself. One of its pretty ways is to

stand and hold out its head and neck to be stroked. It will

remain in this position for some minutes, but moves away

directly its body is touched.



