22 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



rise to a considerable height in the air and fly wildly 

 about, chirping for a few minutes, after which they 

 retire to roost. 



When approached they frequently rise up several 

 feet from the ground and flutter in the air, chirping 

 sharply, with breast towards the intruder. This is 

 a habit also found in Synallaxine species inhabiting 

 the grassy plains. But as a rule the Cachilas are the 

 tamest of feathered creatures, and usually creep 

 reluctantly away on their little pink feet when 

 approached. If the pedestrian is a stranger to their 

 habits they easily delude him into attempting their 

 capture with his hat, so little is their fear of man* 



To sing, the Cachila mounts upwards almost 

 vertically, making at intervals a fluttering pause, 

 accompanied with a few hurried notes. When he 

 has thus risen to a great height (but never beyond 

 sight as Azara says) he begins the descent slowly, 

 the wings inclining upwards ; and, descending, he 

 pours forth long impressive strains, each ending 

 with a falling inflection of with two or three short 

 throat-notes as the bird pauses fluttering in mid- 

 air, and then renewed successively until, when the 

 singer is within three or four feet of the earth, without 

 alighting he re-ascends as before to continue the 

 performance. It is a very charming melody, and 

 heard always on the treeless plains when there is 

 no other bird-music, with the exception of the trilling 

 and grasshopper-like notes of a few Synallaxine 

 species. But in character it is utterly unlike the 

 song of the Skylark with its boundless energy, hurry, 



