OR, PLAIN 



and occasionally on vegetable mat- 

 ter. They perform powerful and 



436. 



elevated flights, extending their 

 neck and legs, and uttering a 

 coarse croak. 



The agami, or golden-breasted 

 trumpeter, 6, is an interesting 

 bird. It has been classed by 

 some-naturalists among the cranes, 

 and by others among pheasants. 

 It is about the size of the latter, 

 but standing high on its legs, 

 and having a long neck, it looks 

 considerably bigger. Like the 

 pheasant, its plumage is of a 

 glossy irridescent green on the 

 breast, has a naked space round 

 the eyes, but a very short tail 

 consisting of twelve black fea- 

 thers, over which the long silky 

 scapulary plumes hang in droop- 

 ing layers ; its legs are long and 

 green, but though .framed after 

 the aquatic birds in that respect, 

 does not frequent marsh or fenny 

 lands, \iving rather in upland 

 forests or on arid plains, but 

 never visiting the clearings or 

 approaching the habitations of 

 man. It is gregarious, and al- 



TE ACHING. 131 



ways found in flocks, seldom flies, 

 but runs very swiftly. It is 

 easily tamed, and becomes as 

 domesticated as the dog, evincing 

 the liveliest affection and devoted- 

 ness to its benefactor, and loading 

 him with the most ardent and 

 unmistakable marks of affection. 

 It is, however, very prone to take 

 antipathies to persons whose 

 figure it dislikes, or who have 

 ill-treated it, pursuing them for 

 a great distance, biting their legs, 

 and by other demonstrations ex- 

 pressing its displeasure or aver- 

 sion. It comes when called, and 

 in every way answers the voice 

 of its master, or those who treat 

 it well, holding out its neck and 

 head for caresses, in the manra r 



6 



437. 



of a petted dog. It is very cou- 

 rageous and determined, and, the 

 moment its master sits down to 

 dinner, drives out all the cats 

 and dogs, and takes undisputed 



