THE BOAT-^BILL, 
247 
nearly as much affection (apparently) as his dog. They are 
trained to protect his property^ and do really defend young 
poultry from the attacks of hawks ; and^ though amiable to 
man^ the trumpeter will allow no rival species of bird or ani- 
mal near his throne ; for^ though spurless, such/^ says 
Waterton, is their high spirit and activity, that they brow- 
beat every dunghill-fowl in the yard, and force the Guinea- 
birds, dogs, and turkeys to own their superiority^^ (p. 145) . 
The trumpeters have short wings, and consequently fly with 
great awkwardness, and but seldom ; they run however with 
great swiftness. 
There i's another South American bird, in habits and 
structure resembling the herons, but at once distinguished 
from them by its great wide bill. This bill consists of two 
mandibles, shaped like the bowls of two spoons placed 
together^ their concave sides being in contact. The upper 
mandible has a pointed tooth on each side at the tip. One 
species is known, the common Boat-bill {Cancroma cocJile- 
aria) ; it feeds chiefly on fish, for which it watches when 
perched on branches of trees by the sides of rivers. 
One of the largest species of the order Grallatores is the 
gigantic Balmicejos, lately described by Mr. Gould. Dr. 
Miiller saw two specimens of this bird rise from one of the 
