164 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
all birds that rise labori@™Sly, they are vigilant to 
excess, and keep themselves so well concealed that 
the sportsman may pass through their haunts every 
day of the year and the Ypecaha still be to him no 
more than a “‘ wandering voice.”’ But even persecu- 
tion does not obliterate a certain inquisitive bold- 
ness which characterises them. Usually they roam 
singly in quest of food, but have reunions in the 
evening and occasionally during the day, especially 
in gloomy weather. On misty days they often wander 
to-a distance from the covert, walking with an easy, 
somewhat stately grace, jerking the tail at every 
stride, and running with a velocity no man can 
equal. Where there are woods they usually fly when 
disturbed into a tree; and it is in connection with 
this habit that the Ypecaha sometimes makes a 
curious mistake in places where it has not been 
much shot at. One day, while pushing my way 
through a dense growth of rushes, I saw two Ypecahas 
not fifteen yards from me, on the horizontal branch 
of a tree, to which they had evidently flown for 
safety. I was anxious to secure them, but surprised 
at their temerity ; and wishing to find out its cause, 
I approached them still nearer, and then stood for 
some time observing them. It was easy to see that 
they fancied themselves quite safe from me while 
off the ground. In the most unconcerned manner 
they continued strutting up and down along the 
branch, jerking their tails, and turning about this 
way and that, as if to tantalise their baffled enemy 
by ostentatiously displaying their graces. 
