556 
HABITS OF THE AUSTRALIAN JABIRU. 
u When lie was first placed in the yard where some poultry were kept, he stared at the 
fowls, and they ran away on his approach, although he did not make the least attempt to 
molest them ; and when striding round the yard, all the poultry fled before him, although it 
did not appear to be an intentional chase on his part. 
“ There happened to be a pugnacious fussy little bantam-cock in the yard, who would not 
permit the intrusion of any stranger, and on seeing the Jabiru, he strntted up with expanded 
and fluttering wings and ruffled feathers in a violent state of excitement, cackling and scream- 
ing most vehemently, and making efforts as energetic as so diminutive a bird was capable of, 
to frighten and drive him out of the yard. The Jabiru with his keen bright eyes regarded the 
little fluttering object with cool contempt, and walked about as before ; the bantam followed. 
At last the Jabiru turned and strode after the consequential little urchin as if to crush him under 
his feet ; when the bantam, seeing matters take this serious turn, made off as fast as possible, 
like all little bullies, and did not again venture to attack so formidable an opponent. In a few 
days the Jabiru became quite domesticated among the poultry, and they evinced no fear ; even 
the little bantam tolerated his presence, but whether from fear or affection I know not. 
“ This bird is as tame as my Native Companion when in captivity, but it will not follow 
any one about as that bird will, nor has it uttered any sound ; it seems to be voiceless. 
“The bird appears timid when any one is looking at him from a short distance, and he 
then watches acutely all the actions of the intruder ; but when startled by any one coming 
suddenly upon him, he appears frightened, and spreads his wings as if preparing for flight ; it 
is then possible, by a little activity, to capture him by his long bill and wings. When the 
mooruks came too close to him, he looked at them with flashing eyes, and flapped his wings as 
if to express his contempt towards them on account of their wingless condition, and at the 
same time the mooruks spread their rudimentary wings, as if to show that they have some 
stumps resembling wings, and appeared proud of their appendages also. 
“ When the Jabiru was sunning himself as usual, and any of the mooruks came between 
him and the sun, he manifested great indignation at their intrusion by clattering his beak, 
ruffling his feathers, and flapping his wings at them ; if these hints were disregarded, he gave 
them a blow with his beak, which soon made them walk away. 
“The Jabiru was occasionally observed lying upon its breast, with its legs doubled up 
underneath so as to resemble a large goose with a most disproportionate size of bill. I have 
noticed him watch the ground very attentively under the trees, and then dart his bill into the 
ground and bring up larvae, which I found to be those of the locusts ( Tettigonice , or Tree- 
hoppers). When the bird observed a slight motion of the soil, he darted his beak down and 
devoured the insect as it was emerging from the soil. On any of these insects falling from the 
trees upon the ground, he would rapidly pick them up and devour them. On giving him one. 
he first crunched it between his mandibles, and throwing it up caught and devoured it. He 
appeared to relish these insects very much, and was eager to procure them. 
“He became latterly so familiar and domesticated that he would permit the person who 
was in the habit of feeding him to touch and examine his plumage and wings. When called 
to be fed, he ran from any part of the yard, and so regular was he in his habits, that when not 
called at the usual hour, he would stand at the place where he was accustomed to be fed, until 
his meat was given to him. When the person who fed him called him, he clapped his mandi- 
bles and ran up. He seemed to delight in standing in the rain, and did not appear in the least 
uncomfortable when his feathers were dripping wet. He frequently slept in the open air all 
night, preferring it to the shelter of the coach-house. He strutted about the yard a long time 
after dark. When caught by the wings or otherwise annoyed, he displayed his auger by no 
other sound than a loud and violent clattering of the mandibles, nor did he attempt any act of 
aggression upon his captors with his powerful beak. He would often run about the yard, 
spreading and fluttering his wings, merely for exercise.” 
The Australian Jabiru appears to be a very rare bird ; and as it is extremely wary, and 
haunts wide expanses where but little cover can be found, it can with difficulty be approached. 
The natives, with their eagle eyes, their snake-like movements, and the exhaustless patience of 
