The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-09-26
A SHEPHERD BIRD.
The Yakamik Is as Good as a Dog for
Caring for u Flock.

Caring for II Flock.
The natives of Venezuela and adioin-
ing countries on the north side of the
liver Amazon often avail themselves of
the services of a native crane to care for
their poultry, and also, il. the place of
collies, Or shepherd dogs, used by North
Americ lrs and Europeans, to guard
and herd their domestic animals.
This remarkable bird, which the In
dams cal yaliamill and ornithologists
Psophia crepitans is found in wild
state in the grea: forests that lie be-
tween the northern coasts of South
America and the Amazon river, par
tcularly in Venezuela and British Gut
ana Tie birds never leave the forests
unless shot or captured. They travel
about in flocks of from 100 to 600 in
search &C berries, fruits and insects,
upon which they subsist. Their usual
gait is = slow and stately march, but
hey eniiven themselves from time TO
time By leaping up into the air, cNecut-
ing eccentric and fantastic waltzes, and
striking the mos. absurd and prepos-
ferrous attitudes. If pursued they en-
for their flight is so weak, according to
Schombourgk, that when they attempt
20 fly over a body of water of any con-
siderable width they arc often obliged
TO drop upon it and save themselves by
swimming. When alarm, they utter
the peculiar cry which has obtained for
them their name of trumpcters. The
sound is sometimes like :hat produced
by person endeavoring to shout the
syllahles ''tow, tow. tow, tow, tow,
tow" with his mouth shut, or the dole
fnl noise made by children on New
Years with their trumpets. The yak
amks usually deposit their eggs in
hollow in the ground, often at the foot
of tree.
\ nest generally contains ten eggs,
OF a pale green color. The young birds
are Matched, but do not lose their pretty
downy covering until several weeks old.
The yak1miks are very readily tanned,
and prove valuable servants to The In
dams, who domesticate them, and as
they are courageous and viii protect an
finals entrusted to their care at every
risk to themselves, even dogs are
obliged &c yield to their Authority. They
may be trusted with the care of flock
OF sheep or domesticated fowls. and
every morning will drive he ducks and
poultry TO their feeding places, and,
carefully collecting arg stragglers,
bring them safely home Mt night. A
yakamik soon learns to know and to
obey the voice of its master. follow him,
when permitted, wherever he goes, and
appears delighted ut receiving his ca
resses. 1t repines at his absence and
welcomes his return, anG is extremely
jealous Of any rival. Should any dog
or cat approach, it flies at it with ut
most fury, and, attacking 1t with wings
and beah, drives ii away.
1t presents itself regularly during
meals, from which it cha3es all domesti-
Gated animals, and even the negroes
who wait on the table, if it IS not well ac
quainteI with them; and only asks for
a share of the eatables after it has
driven away all who might aspire to q
favorable notice from the family. 1t
appreciates favors in the same proper
ton as it is jealous of Sharing them
with others, and manifests joy and af-
lection Dy the most extravagant capers
and gesticulations. When the an
finals of which 1t has charge are shut up
for the night, the yakamik roosts upon
some shed or tree near at hand to be
ready to take its place as keeper rs soon
us they ere set out in the morning. One
quality that makes it valuable is it's
sense of location, which is perfect; how
ever far it may wander with the fiocks
or herds it guards, it never fails to find
its way home at night, driving before it
all the creatures Entrusted 10 its care.
1t is strange that several species of
South American birds OF different gem
era should share with the yakamik its
instinct of guarding and taking care of
domestic animals. One OF these is the
crested screamer (Dicholophus srista-
tus), another the horned cnauna (Chau
IA chavaria), which is often domesti-
Gated as Il poultry keeper by the natives.
Popular Science News.
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why He Was Chosen.