Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1896-10-08
A SHEPHERD BIRD.

A SHEPHERD BIRD.
The Yakamik Is as Good as Dog for
Caring for Flock.
The natives of Venezuela and adjoin-
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 ans and Europeans, to guard
and herd their domestic animals.
This remarkable, bird, which the In
dams call yakamill 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
t;cularly in Venezuela and British Gui-
sna. The birds never leHve the forests
unless shot or captured. They travel
about in focks of from 100 to 200, in
search Ct berries, fruits and insects,
upon which they subsist Their usual
gait is :: slow and stately march, but
hey en'iven themselves from time to
time by leaping up into the air, execut-
ing eccentric and fantastic waltzes, and
striking the most absurd and prepos-
ferrous attitudes. If pursued they en-
deavor to save themselves by running,
for their flight is so weak, according to
Schombourgk, that when they attempt
to fly over a body of water of any con-
siderable width they arc often obliged
tc drop upon it and save themselves by
CIV ole
the peculiar cry which has obtained for
them their name of trulnpeters. The
sound is sometimes like that produced
by a person endeavoring to shout the
syllables :'tow, tow, tow, tow, tow,
tow" with his mouth shut. or the dole
full noise made by children on New
Years with their trumpets. The yak
cmiks usually deposit their eggs in
hollow III the ground, often at the foot
Of a tree.
A nest generally contains ten eggs,
CT pale green color. The young birds
follow their mothers as soon as they
are Matched, but do not lose their pretty :.
downy covering until several weeks old.
The yakamiks are very readily tanned,
and prove valuable servants to the In
dams, who domesticate them, and as
they are courageous and Will protect an
imals entrusted to their care at every
risk to themselves, even dogs are
obliged to yield to their authority. They
may be trusted with the care of flock
OF sheep or domesticated fowls, and
every morning will drive 1he ducks and
poultry to their feeding places, and,
carefully collecting airy stragglers,
bring them safely home at night. A
yakamik soon learns to know and to
obey the voice of it's master, follow him,
when permitted, wherever he goes, and
appears delighted at receiving his ca
resses. It repines at his absence and
welcomes his return, and is extremely
jealous Of any rival. Should any dog
or cat approach, it flies at it with ut
most fury, and, attacking it with wings
and beai>, drives it away.
It presents itself regularly during
meals, from which it chases all domestic
Gated animals, and even the negroes
who wait on the table, if it IS not well ac-
Guainted with them: and only asks for
a share of the eatables after it has
driven away all who might aspire to
favorable notice from the family. 1t
appreciates favors in the same propor-
ton as it is jealous of sharing them
with others, and manifests JOY and af.
lection Dy the most eNtravagant capers
and gesticulations. When the an
finals of which it has charge are shut up
for the night, the yakamill roosts upon
some shed or tree near at hand to be
ready to take its place as keeper as soon
lis they :1c set out in the morning. One
duality that makes it valuable is its
sense of location, which is perfect; how
ever far it may wander with the f1ocks
or herds it guards, it never fails to find
its way home at night, driving before it
all the creatures intrusted to its care
It 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 4
domestic animals. One OF these is the
crested screamer (Dicholophus srista-
tus), another the horned chauna (Chau-
ma chavaria), which is often domestic
Gated as y poultry keeper by the natives.
Popular Science News.