96 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



stitutes a family by itself. Like the Seriama, how- 

 ever, it is placed by ornithologists in the Order of 

 Crane-like birds. Its power of flight is feeble, so that 

 most of its time is spent upon the ground, and like the 

 preceding form, it is a very swift runner. These birds 

 are easily domesticated, becoming very much attached 

 to people and living peaceably with domestic Fowls. 

 Trumpeters are somewhat gregarious, being found in 

 small flocks. Their call, uttered at night and by a 

 number of birds at the same time, is loud and harsh. 



In form the Trumpeter is not unlike a small Emu, 

 having a rounded back and long neck, but it partakes 

 of the characters of other species as well. The head 

 and neck are almost jet black, and on the breast is a 

 patch of brilliant iridescent feathers which seem to 

 differ in texture from the rest of the plumage, being 

 much stiffer and harsher. This iridescence is entirely 

 bluish-green, and has no suggestion of golden colour 

 in it. The back and upper tail-coverts are a warm 

 grey, and bill and legs greyish-black. The eye is very 

 dark and shining, and looks not unlike a shoe-button 

 sunken in the dense plumage of the face. The feet 

 are large for the size of the bird, and are evidently 

 formed for scratching. 



The Rail tribe are mostly small birds, of shy, skulk- 

 ing habits and feeble flight, but with strong legs, and 

 able to run with great speed through the marshes in 

 which they live. One of the smallest is the Little 

 Crake, a native of Africa, but occasionally seen in 

 Great Britain. The Spotted Crake is common all 

 over Europe during the summer, but returns to Africa 

 to winter. See Plate 29, Figs. 164, 166. 



