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Show 1876.] MR. W. H. HUDSON ON THE HABITS OF RAILS. 105 from side to side. It has at such times a very sprightly appearance, whilst the long tricoloured beak, the blood-red eye, and vermilion legs admirably contrasting with the fine dark plumage, give it some claims to beauty. At other times it has a hollow call-note with a puzzling ventriloquism in the sound; this note is sometimes repeated at brief intervals for an hour at a time; and whilst uttering it the bird stands, as usual, on a slight eminence, but in a listless attitude, and without any of the nods and becks and other frisky gestures. It has also a kind of song, frequently heard; the common people fancy it resembles the distant braying of an ass ; hence the vernacular name " Burrito," by which the bird is known in the Plata. It is heard occasionally in the day, but oftenest in the evening, and is a confused performance, uttered without pause, and composed of several long shrill notes, modulated and mingled with others hollow and booming. These notes can be heard a thousand yards away; but far or near they always sound remote. I can say little of Porzana erythrops, called with us "Gallinetita," or Little Hen, though it visits Buenos Ayres annually, breeds, and is abundant there. In language and habits it is like a Coot, not often seen on land, and feeding principally as it swims about in a jerky manner amongst the floating weeds. It appears in October, migrating exclusively, I think, by night; and after the autumnal departure an individual is rarely seen. By day they are shy and retiring, but scatter abroad in the evening, frequently uttering their strange hollow cry, called "witch-laughter" by superstitious people, and resembling a sudden burst of hysterical laughter, the notes beginning loud and long, becoming brief and hurried as they die away. The Aramides ipecaha, called in Buenos Ayres " Gallineta," is a most interesting bird. Without any brilliant tints, there is something so pleasing to the eye in the various hues of its plumage- light brown and drab-colour, blue, grey, buff, and black-all these colours so harmoniously disposed (the effect heightened by the yellow beak, golden-red eye, and vermilion legs), that I do not know a handsomer waterfowl. They are found as far south as the thirty-fifth parallel of latitude, and are most abundant along the marshy borders of the Plata, frequenting the vast reed-beds and forests of water-loving Erythrina crista-galli. When they are not persecuted they are bold pugnacious birds, coming out of the reeds by day and attacking the domestic poultry about the houses and even in the streets of the villages situated on the borders of their marshy haunts. But when compelled to place M a n on the list of their enemies, it is a difficult matter to get a sight of one; for, like all birds that rise laboriously, they are vigilant to excess, and keep themselves so well concealed that one may pass through their haunts every day of the year, and the, Ipicaha still be to him no more than a " wandering voice." But even persecution does not entirely obliterate a certain inquisitive boldness that is one of the strongest traits of their character. Usually they roam singly in quest of food, but have reunions in the evening and occasionally during the day, especially in gloomy weather. |
