162 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
It is difficult to flush t#@Black Rail; it rises in a 
weak fluttering manner, the legs dangling down, and 
after flying thirty or forty yards drops again into the 
reeds. Its language is curious: when alarmed the 
bird repeats, at short intervals, a note almost painful 
from its excessive sharpness, and utters it standing 
on a low branch or other elevation, but well masked 
by reeds and bushes, and incessantly bobbing its 
head, jerking its tail, and briskly turning from side 
to side. It has at such times a very interesting 
appearance, while the long beak, brilliant with the 
nuptial colouring, the bright red eye and vermilion 
legs, admirably contrasting with the fine deep slate 
plumage, give it considerable claims to beauty. At 
other times it has a hollow call-note with a puzzling 
ventriloquism in the sound, which is sometimes 
repeated at short intervals for an hour. While utter- 
ing it the bird stands as usual on a slight eminence, 
but drawn up in a listless attitude and without any 
of its nods and jerks and other frisky gestures. It 
has also a kind of song, which sounds not unlike the 
braying of a donkey; hence the vernacular name 
Burrito (Little Ass) by which the bird is known in the 
Plata. This song is heard both day and night, 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. 
