34 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



many times in low, marshy ground where cover is more abundant 

 than on the uplands. The birds seem more at ease and more com- 

 mon, however, in regions where low grasses or similar vegetation 

 offer shelter. 



Males were heard giving their low piping whistle, a single note 

 repeated with increasing rapidity until it terminated in a trill, 

 during the whole year, though more commonly in spring. They 

 run rapidly with head and neck erect, and sloping back so that 

 in attitude they suggest guinea fowl. In feeding they walk 

 rapidly with nodding heads, pecking at the tender herbage. When 

 frightened the birds crouch and remain motionless, or run quickly 

 aside to flush with a thunder of wings when closely pressed. 



Spotted tinamon rise with a rush, throwing the feet back under the 

 tail when under way ; after a series of rapid strokes of the rounded 

 wings they scale for a short distance and then stroke again to avoid 

 losing momentum, continuing to fly and sail alternately until safe, 

 when they scale to the ground. Flight is accompanied by a strange 

 whirring whistle that might be considered vocal, but is evidently 

 mechanical in its origin, as the sound is heard only when the wings 

 are beating sAviftly, and ceases when the birds are scaling with 

 motionless pinions. The flight is well controlled, as at times I saw 

 them rush away down wind at a tremendous speed. In alighting, 

 however, the birds often seem awkward, as they scale down to 

 within 2 or 3 feet of the ground and then throw the wings up and 

 drop heavily to earth, when two or three hops or a little run are 

 taken to stop their momentum; often the bird may stumble and 

 fall forward in its breast. The flight is direct and swift, and the 

 roar made in rising disconcerting but the birds are easily killed 

 once one has learned to gauge their speed. 



Near Carhue on December 16 I flushed one direct from a nest 

 placed in a little hollow under a clump of grass growing on a low 

 hillock. The nest hollow was lined with grasses and contained 

 four eggs, with incubation begun. The eggs are dusky drab in 

 color with highly polished surface that, though apparently smooth, 

 contains many small rounded pits. These eggs measure 40.4 by 

 31.1, 41.1 by 31.9, 41.8 by 31.3, 42.7 by 32.0 mm. On December 17 

 in this same region I flushed several young birds ranging in size 

 from the bulk of a zenaida dove to nearly grown, and found that 

 they flew as readily as adults. Adults and young fly with the 

 neck curved so that the head is held slightly erect. The species is 

 known universally as jyerdiz. 



Spotted tinamous are exposed for sale in large numbers in the 

 markets of the city of Buenos Aires, and form one of the staple 

 game birds offered in hotels, restaurants, or occasionally as a sub- 

 stitute for the chicken served unfailingly at meals on railroad dining 



