94 cassell's book of birds. 



voice of this species has been compared to the barking or yelping of a young dog, or the hoarse cry 

 of a bird of prey. These most unpleasing sounds are sometimes continued for half an hour at a time, 

 the noisy performer sitting upright on a branch, and turning its head about in a sort of accompaniment 

 to its harsh screams, which Burmeister remarks are enough to drive any person with weak nerves 

 from its vicinity. During the period of incubation, the males contend fiercely, tearing each other with 

 their beaks, and presenting a most ludicrous appearance, as, with plumage inflated and tail fully 

 spread, they bound into the air. The nest is usually placed in trees, at no great height from the 

 ground, and is formed of dry twigs, lined with a coating of clay or dung. The two eggs, which are 

 about as large as those of the Peacock, have a white shell, sparsely dotted with rust-red. The young, 

 when first hatched, are clad in thick reddish down, marked with deep greyish brown, and remain 

 for some time in the nest. The Crested Screamers are readily tamed and reared in the poultry-yard. 

 Burmeister saw two of these birds that were domesticated in a farmhouse, standing warming themselves 

 at the fire among a group of men and children. If driven forcibly to one side, they merely retired 

 quiedy to a short distance, and almost immediately returned to their former position. Although the 

 flesh of the Cariama is white and well-flavoured, it is seldom killed, as its swiftness of foot renders 

 its capture a work of much difficulty, even to a mounted sportsman. The plan usually adopted, 

 according to the Prince von Wied, is to follow it patiently on horseback, until at last it is driven into 

 a corner and becomes too weary to make further attempts to escape or elude pursuit. 



The TRUMPETERS (Psopkia) possess a powerful body, moderately long neck, medium-sized 

 head, and short, curved beak, compressed at its sides and hooked at its tip. The feet are high, the 

 tarsi long, the toes short, and armed with curved sharp claws ; the exterior and centre toes are united 

 by a short skin ; the arched wing has its fourth quill longer than the rest ; the tail is short and weak, 

 and the plumage principally composed of large feathers. Those on the head and neck are of velvety, 

 and those on the under side of downy texture. 



These birds frequent the South American forests, where they render themselves conspicuous by 

 their most peculiar and noisy cry. This loud trumpet-like sound is uttered six or seven times in 

 succession, without opening the beak, and is so deep and sonorous that it appears to proceed from the 

 bird's entire body. According to Pallas, the strange noise results from a peculiar construction of the 

 windpipe, which at its upper portion is as thick as a Swan's quill, but becomes more slender as it 

 enters the chest, when it gives off two membranous semicircular air-bags, of which the right is the 

 largest, and divided into three or four cells. The hollow internal drumming, preceded by a wild cry, 

 is evidently produced by the vibration of the air forced into these air-bags by the action of the muscles 

 of the thorax. During the performance the chest heaves as in birds when singing. 



THE AGAMI, OR GOLD-BREASTED TRUMPETER. 



The Agami, or Gold-breasted Trumpeter {Psophia crepitans), is black upon the head, neck, 

 upper back, wings, lower breast, belly, and rump ; the shoulder-feathers are purplish black, shaded 

 with blue or green ; the upper breast is steel-blue, with a copper-red sheen. The eye is reddish 

 brown, the bare ring around it flesh-pink, the beak greenish white, and the foot yellowish pink. This 

 species is twenty inches long ; the wing measures eleven inches, and the tail one inch. 



The Agami occupies such parts of South America as are situated north of the Amazon, while on 

 the other side of that mighty stream it is replaced by another but nearly-allied species. Both occupy 

 forests, and are met with in large flocks, that often number some two hundred birds. These parties 

 wander about together in search of the fruit, berries, seeds, and insects upon which they subsist; and 

 usually move with a slow and stately step, enlivening themselves from time to time by leaping into the 



