YPECAHA RAIL 169 
instantly on his back, then rain a shower of blows on 
his breast before he could rise. It was fond of eggs, 
and always knew when a hen went off to lay, cautiously 
following her to the nest and then concealing itself 
at some distance to wait. As soon as the egg was 
dropped it would run, pick it up with its beak, and 
carry it away to a safe distance, and then, breaking 
a hole in the shell at one end, suck out the contents 
without spilling a drop. Sometimes, when the hen 
remained too long on the nest, it would lose its 
temper, and, driving her off, pursue her with the 
greatest animosity about the grounds, administering 
correction with its sharp beak. Not satisfied with 
devouring all the eggs laid by the doctor’s fowls, it 
visited all the neighbours’ houses, doing so much 
damage that at length the poor doctor, afraid perhaps 
that his practice would suffer, had the troublesome 
bird put to death. 
This Ypecaha would never allow any one to touch 
it, but it would come into the house and search 
through all the rooms for thimbles, scissors, and 
other small metal objects, and these it would carry 
away to conceal them among the weeds or else bury 
them in the mud. It was also a good mouser, and 
after killing a mouse with a blow from its beak would 
swallow it entire. 
