208 PTE ROPTOCHID^E. 



Darwin has given us some interesting notes on this bird : " This 

 species is called by the Chilenos ' Tapacola/ or ' cover your pos- 

 teriors/ The name is well applied, as the Tapacola generally 

 carries its short tail more than erect, that is, inclined backward and 

 toward the head. It is extremely common in Central Chile. The 

 Tapacola frequents hedge -rows and the bushes which are scattered at a 

 considerable elevation over the sterile hills, where scarcely another bird 

 can exist; hence it plays a conspicuous part in the ornithology of 

 Chile. The Tapacola is very crafty ; when frightened by any person, 

 it will remain motionless at the bottom of a bush, and will then, after a 

 little while, try with much address to crawl away on the opposite side. 

 It is also an active bird, and continually making a noise ; these noises 

 are various and strangely odd ; one is like the cooing of doves, another 

 like the bubbling of water, and many defy all similes. The country- 

 people say it changes its cry five times in the year, which is according, 

 I suppose, to some change of season. I was told that the Tapacola 

 builds its nest at the bottom of a deep burrow." (Darwin, in Zool. Voy. 

 < Beagle/ iii. p. 72.) 



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