The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-22
A SHEPHERD BIRD.

A SHEPHERD BIRD.
The Yak.mik L. as Good - . Dog 70
Caring for Plock.
The natives of Venezuela and adjoin
| ing countries on the north side of tn,
river Amazon often avail themselves O
the services Of a native crane to care fol
their poultry. and also, in the place o.
collies. Or shepherd dogs, used by NORTH
Americans and Europeans, to guard
and herd their domestic animals.
This remarkable bird, which the In
dams call yalzamik and ornithcloGisti
Psophia crepitans is found IN q wild
state in the great forests that lie be
tween the northern coasts Of South
America and the Amazon river, par
,ticularly in Venezuela and british Gut
ana TIE birds never leays the,forests
unless shot or captured. They trave'
about in focks of from 100 to 200, II
search Ct berries, fruits and insecta
upon wfiinh they subsist. Their usaal
gait is slow end stately march, but
they en.iven themselves from time 10
time by lesfing up into the air, execus-
ing eccentric and fantastic waltzes, aud
striking the most absurd and prepos
ferrous attitudes. If pursued they en-.
.deavsr to save themselves by runninC
for theic fight Il 80 weak. according tc
iSchombourgk, that when they attempt
to fly over q body Of water Of any OOH.
isiderabls width they are often obliged
to drop upon it and save Themselves by
swimming. When alarmed they uttex
the peculiar cry which has obtained for
them their name OF trumpeteTs. Tbs
ieoand is sometimes like that produced
by a person endeavoring to shout the
;syllables ~tow, tow, tow, tow, low;
tow" with his mouth shut, or the dole.
full noise made by children on New
Years with their trumpets. The yak
Smilrs usually deposit their eggs in Q
hollow IN the ground, often at the foot
of tree
A nest generally contains ten eggs
OF paleEreen color. The young birdie
follow their mothers as soon as they
are Matched, but do not lose theis pretty
downy covering until several weeks old.
The yalsamiks arc very readilystamed.
and prove valuable servants to the In.
dams, who domeeticats them, and a.
they are courageous and u3il protect an
imals entrusted to their care At every
risk to themselves. even dogs ard
obliged ts Yield TO their authoritysT They
may be trusted with the care Of COCK
OF sheep or domesticased fowls, and
every morning will drive the ducks and
poultry 10 their feeding pieces. and
carefully collecting any straegisrs,
bring them safely home At night. A
yakamik soon learns to know and I'd
obey the voice ofits master. follow him,
when permitted, wherever he goes. and
appears delighted at receiving his ca
resses- 1t rapines at his ebsenoe and
welcomes his return, and il extremely
jealous Of any rival. Should any dog
or cat approach, it flies at IL with uts
most fury. and, attacking it with wings
and beak. drives 1t awsy. =
It presents itself regularly during
meals. from which it ehasss ell domesti.
Gated animals, and even the negroea
who wait on the ia bic, If il isnot v0cA &C.
quainted with them; and only asks for
q share of the eatables after It has
driven away all who might aspire to
favorable notice from the family. II
appreciates favers in the same proper.
ton as it is jealous of sharing them
with others, and manifests joy and AZ.
lection by the most e1travueant oapers
md gesticulations. When the ans
finals of which it has charge are shut up
for the night, the yakamfk roosts upon
some shed or tree near at hand to bo
ready to take its place as keeper as soon
as they are set out in the morning. One
quality that makes 1t valuable is its
sense of location. which is perfect; how
ever far II may wander with the hocks
or herds it guards, it ne<er fails to find
its way home at night, driving before IL
all the creatures intrusted TO its care.
1t is strange that several species Of
South American birds OF different gen.
era should share with the yakamik its
of guarding and taking care of
domestic animals. One Of these is the
crested screamer (DichoioPhus sIista-
tus). another the horned chauna (Chau.
ma chavaria), which is often domesti. |
Gated as poultry keeper by the natives
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