150 RALLID^E. 



sharpness, and utters it standing on a low branch or other elevation, 

 but well masked by reeds and bushes, and incessantly bobbing its 

 head, jerking its tail, and briskly turning from side to side. It has, at 

 such times/ a very interesting appearance, while the long beak, brilliant 

 with the nuptial colouring, the bright-red eye and vermilion legs, 

 admirably contrasting with the fine deep slate plumage, give it consi- 

 derable claims to beauty. At other times it has a hollow call-note with 

 a puzzling ventriloquism in the sound, which is sometimes repeated at 

 short intervals for an hour. While uttering it the bird stands, as 

 usual, on a slight eminence, but drawn up in a listless attitude and 

 without any of its nods and jerks and other frisky gestures. It has 

 also a kind of song, which sounds not unlike the braying of a donkey ; 

 hence the vernacular name Burrito (little ass) by which the bird is 

 known in the Plata. This song is heard both day and night, and is a 

 confused performance, uttered without pause, and composed of several 

 long shrill notes, modulated and mingled with others, hollow and 

 booming. These notes can be heard a thousand yards away ; but, far or 

 near, they always sound remote. 



372. RALLUS NIGRJCANS, VieilL 

 (PLUMBEOUS RAIL.) 



Ar amides nigricans, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 504. Rallus nigricans, 

 Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 446; iid. Nomencl. p. 139. 



Description. Above olivaceous brown ; front, side of the head, and body beneath 

 plumbeous ; throat whitish ; lower belly, thighs, and tail blackish ; bill straight, 

 uniform dark greenish : whole length 10*0 inches, wing 5'3, tail 2'S. Female 

 similar. 



tlab. South Brazil, Paraguay, and Northern Argentina. 



This Rail is said by Dr. Burmeister to occur near Buenos Ayres, but 

 the bird taken for this species by Durnford (Ibis, 1877, p. 193 ; 1878, 

 p. 66) appears to have been R. rhytirhynchus. 



373. ARAMIDES YPECAHA (VieilL). 

 (YPECAHA RAIL.) 



Aramides gigas, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 504 (Parana). Aramides ype- 

 caha, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. ] 39 ; iid. P. Z. S. 1868, pp. 144 ; 448 ; 

 Hudson, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 105 (Buenos Ayres) ; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 194 

 (Buenos Ayres) ; Narrows, Auk, 1884, p. 276 (Entrerios). 



Description. Above olive-green ; neck red ; front cinereous ; rump and tail 



