220 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
White obtained specim@ffs among the undergrowth 
in the dense forests of Campo Colorado, near Oran, 
and Durnford also met with it near Salta. 
To Azara’s interesting account of the Tataupa’s 
habits nothing has been recently added. He says 
that this species inhabits woods and thickets, and 
also approaches houses where it finds cover—hence 
the Guarani name, which means a domestic bird, 
or of the house. It lays four eggs of a fine purple 
colour; and when driven from the nest flutters 
along the ground, feigning lameness. It sings all 
the year round, and for power and brilliance of 
voice is pre-eminent among this class of birds. After 
the first note of its curious song there is an interval 
of eight seconds of silence ; then the note is repeated 
with shorter and shorter intervals, until, becoming 
hurried, it runs into a trill, followed by a sound 
which may be written chorord, repeated three or 
four times. When sitting close it tips forward, 
pressing its breast on its legs, so that the rump is 
raised higher than the back, and opening the term- 
inal feathers of the body, it spreads them in a semi- 
circle over the back as if to conceal itself beneath 
them, and when looked at from behind nothing is 
visible except this fan of feathers. The feathers are 
concave with points inclining upward, and when thus 
disposed have a singular and beautiful appearance. 
