68 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
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Curiously enough, like one of the boldest of our 
small Hawks (Tinnunculus cinnamominus), they some- 
times attack birds so much too strong and big for 
them that they must know the assault will produce 
more annoyance than harm. I was once watching 
a flock of Coots feeding on a grassy bank, when a 
passing Chimango paused in its flight, and, after 
hovering over them a few moments, dashed down 
upon them with such impetuosity that several birds 
were thrown to the ground by the quick successive 
blows of its wings. There they lay on their backs, 
kicking, apparently too much terrified to get up, 
while the Chimango deliberately eyed them for 
some moments, then quietly flew away, leaving them 
to dash into the water and cool their fright. Attacks 
like these are possibly made in a sportive spirit, for 
the Milvago is a playful bird, and, as with many 
other species, bird and mammal, its play always 
takes the form of attack. 
Its inefficient weapons compel it to be more timid 
than the Hawk, but there are many exceptions, and 
in every locality individual birds are found dis- 
tinguished by their temerity. Almost any shepherd 
can say that his flock is subject to the persecutions 
of at least one pair of lamb-killing birds of this 
species. They prowl about the flock, and watch till 
a small lamb is found sleeping at some distance from 
its dam, rush upon it, and, clinging to its head, eat 
away its nose and tongue. The shepherd is then 
obliged to kill the lamb; but I have seen many 
lambs that have been permitted to survive the 
