Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-10-03
A SHEPHERD BIRD.
The Yakamik Is Good as q Dog for
Caring for a Flock.

The Yakamik Is al Good q Dog for
Caring for Flock.
The natives of Venezuela and adioin-
ing countries on the north side of the
liver Amazon often avail themselves of
the services of 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
| i.ans call yakamik and ornithologists
Psophia crepitans is found in wild
state in the great forests that lie be-
tween the northern coasts of South
America and the Amazon river, par
jcularly in Venezuela and British Gui-
ina. Tie birds never leuye the forests
unless shot or captured. They travel
4 bout in flocks of from 100 50 200, in
search CT berries, fruits and insects,
upon which they subsist. Their usual
yait is {, slow and stately march. but
hey en,iven themselves from tin,e 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-
1eavor to gave themselves by running
for their fight is so weak, according to
Schombourgk, that when they attempt
10 fly over a body of water of any con-
siderable width they are often obliged
to drop upon il and save themselves by
swimming. When alarme they utter
the peculiar cry which has obtained for
them their name of tru1npeters. The
sound is sometimes like that produced
by 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
amils usually deposit their eggs in
hollow III the ground, often at the foot
of a tree.
A nest generally contains ten eggs,
OF pale green color. The young birds
follow their mothers 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
hey are courageous and will protect ar
imals entrusted to their care at every |
risk to themselves, even dogs are |
obliged tc yield to their authority. They |
may be trusted with the care of a flock |
Of sheep or domesticated fowls, and |
Every morning will drive he ducks and |
poultry 10 their feeding places, and,
carefully collecting arr stragglers,
oring them safely home at night. A
rakamik soon learns to know and to |
,bey the voice of its master, follow him,
when permitted, wherever he goes. and
appears delighted at receiving his ca
'esses. It repines at his absence and
welcomes his return, ant; is extremely
ealous Of any rival. Should any dog
IT cat approach. it flies st it with ut
most fury. and, attacking it with wings
md bea;>, drives it away.
1t presents itself regularly during
meals, from which it chases all domesti-
'ated animals, and even the negroes
Who wait on the ia Die, if it g not we'll ac-
iuainte1 with them; and only asks for
share of the eatables after it has
Iriven away all who might aspire to a
avorable notice from the family. 1t
ppreciates fayors in the same proper
ION as it is jealous of sharing them
nth others, and manifests joy and af-
ection by the most eXtravagant capers
nd geSticulations. When the an
mails of which it has charge are shut up
or the night, the yakamik roosts upon
ONE shed or tree near at hand to be
eady to take its place as keeper as soon
S they cIe set out in the morning. One
uality that makes it valuable is its
ense of location, which is perfect; how
yer far it may wander with the f1ocks !
r herds it guards, it never fails to find
s way home at night, driving before it !.
II the creatures intrusted TO it's care
It is strange that several species of /,
outh American birds of different gen
"a should share with the yaka mix its
lstinct of guarding and taking care of :
animals. One OF these is the
fR6 /