168 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
any more than a human b@fig with clouded reputa- 
tion will comport himself naturally with the eyes 
of a detective on him. While we are observing 
the bird, the bird watches us: of all its curious 
doings when we are out of sight and mind we see 
nothing, The only way to learn the habits of a species 
like the Ypecaha—wary, intelligent, and passing its 
life behind a screen of rushes—is to domesticate it ; 
for although in this state some instincts are blunted 
and others remain in abeyance, they are not obliter- 
ated. It might surprise some that I speak of the 
Ypecaha as an intelligent bird, since it is a member 
of the ‘“‘ stupid family,”’ as Professor Parker has called 
the Rails; but in spite of the very profound admir- 
ation I feel for that illustrious anatomist, I believe 
he is wrong about these birds: there is, to my mind, 
very much more stupidity in the Anserine and 
Limicoline families, while the Ypecaha has always 
seemed to me a singularly intelligent bird. 
Fortunately Azara was able to give an account of 
one of these birds in a domestic state, which shows 
that it makes a very sprightly and entertaining al- 
though a mischievous pet. It was taken young and 
allowed to run about at liberty with the poultry at 
the house of a village doctor in Paraguay. When 
full-grown it was very domineering, and became the 
tyrant of the poultry-yard. Occasionally a cock had 
the courage to face it, and then a singular combat 
would ensue: the Ypecaha, moving with astonishing 
rapidity, putting its head low, would charge, and, 
thrusting its head between the cock’s legs, fling him 
