A'CAMI (Trophia erepitane, Latham), an interesting bird, sometimes also termed the Cold-Breasted Trumpeter, classed by Pallas among. Cranes, by Brisson among Pheasants, and making the first genus in Temminek's llectorides. It is the size of a pheasant or large fowl, being 22 inches in length, but appears larger from having a long neck, and from standing high on its legs. It bears some slight resemblance to the pheasant in the glossy iridescent green on the breast, and in a space round the eyes naked of feathers ; but has a very short tail, consisting of twelve black feathers, over which the long, loose, silky acapulary rump-plumes hang droopingly. Its long greenish legs assimilate it to wading birds (Grallatores), but it is said not to have the habits of these, never visiting fens and the margins of water, and living wholly in upland forests and arid mountains. It inhabits the forests of tropical America, and never visits the cleared grounds or the settlements. According to M. Monoucour, it is very gregarious, being found in numerous flocks, which walk and run, but rarely fly, and, when they do, seldom rise more than a few feet above the surface of the ground. Even when pursued they trust most to their speed in running.
Several naturalist have given accounts of the Aped in a domestic state. Its docility and attachment to man are remarkable. "The Again'," says Monoucour, "is not only tamed easily, but becomes attached to its benefactor with all the fondues,' and fidelity of the dog; and of this disposition it shown the most unequivocal proofs. When bred up in the house, it loads its master with caresses, and follows his motions; and if it conceives a dislike to persons on account of their forbidding figure, their offensive smell, or of injuries received, it will pursue them sometimes to a considerable distance, biting their legs, and testifying every mark of displeasure. It obeys the voice of its master, and even Answers to the call of all those to whom it bears no grudge. It is fond of cameral, and offers its head and neck to be stroked ; and, if once accustomed to these familiarities, it becomes troublesome, and will not be satisfied without continual fondling. It makes its appearance as often as its master sits down to table, and begins with driving out the does and cats, and taking possession of the room ; for it is so obstinate and bold, that it never yields, and often, after a tough battle, can put a middle-sized dog to flight. It avoids the bites of its antagonist, by rising in the air, and retaliates with violent blows with its bill and nails, aimed chiefly nt the eyes ; and after it gains the superiority, it pursues the victory with the utmost rancour, and, if not parted, will destroy the fugitive.
The peculiar noise which these birds make, without opening the bill, is one of their most remarkable characteristics. This noise is no doubt produced by a peculiar conformation of the organ of sound.
According to Pallas, the larynx, which is on the outside of the breast, is about as thick as a swan's quill and almost bony, becomes much more slender, loose, and cartilaginous when it enters within the breast, where two seruicyrindrical canals of a membranous texture, and capable of being extended, proceed from it. The air-bag on the right side descends to the pelvis, and within the breast it is divided into three or four cells by transverse membranes. The air-bag on the left side is mu-rower. Vosmabr tells us that the sound is sometimes preceded by a wild cry, interrupted by a call somewhat like 'scherck, scherek,' and then follows the characteristic noise somewhat resembling the cooing of pigeons. It utters, in this way, five, six, or seven times, with precipitation, a hollow noise nearly resembling the syllables 'too too, too, too, too, too,' resting upon the. last a very long time, and sinking the sound gradually till it terminates. During this, the breast is seen to heave, as in birds while singing, though the bill remains shut. It is, no doubt, produced by the air pressed up from the lower air-bags on the right and left above described, which, meeting with the tram verse membranes in its passage, causes them to vibrate and sound, and this is communicated to the surrounding muscles, and by these to the external air.
The Agami, like the rest of the Alectoridcs, builds no nest, but scratches a shallow place at the root of a tree where it deposits its eggs, from 10 to 16 in number, and of a light green colour. They are somewhat larger than a hen's egg, and of a rounder form. The down remains a long time on the young, and grows into long silky plumes, very close, like fur, and it is not till they are one-fourth the size of the adult birds that the true feathers appear.
Dr. Latham tells us, that "one of the Agamia a young bird, found its way into a farm-yard in Surrey, and associated with the poultry. It was perfectly tame, and, on one occasion, accompanied the bounds for three miles, and kept up with them. It was last in the possession of Lord Stanley, but died on its way into Lancashire."