154 RALLID^E. 



in a domestic state, which shows that it makes a very sprightly and 

 entertaining, although 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 down, would 

 charge, and, thrusting its head between the cock's legs, fling him instantly 

 011 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. 



374. POEZANA LEUCOPYRRHA (Vieill.). 

 (RED-AND-WHITE CRAKE.) 



Corethrura leucopyrrha, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 505 (Tucuman). Por- 

 zana leucopyrrha, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 140; iid. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 454 ; 

 iid. Ex. Orn. pi. Ivi. p. 111. 



Description. Brownish olive, head reddish ; wings, tail, and hind back 

 daiker: beneath white; sides of the head and of the neck and breast chestnut- 

 red; flanks barred with white and black ; crissum black in the middle, white on 

 each side ; bill olivaceous ; feet yellowish : whole length 6'75 inches, wing 3'1, 

 tail 1/9. Female similar. 



Hab. S. Brazil, Paraguay, and N. Argentina. 



This Crake is an inhabitant of Southern Brazil and Paraguay, but 



