CHOPI 133 



never seen it, except as a cage-bird ; nor is there 

 anything about it in the notes of recent collectors 

 and travellers who have visited the upper waters of 

 the Plata, This however is not greatly to be regretted, 

 since Azara gave a full and spirited account of this 

 species in his Birds of Paraguay, although it does 

 seem strange that the Chopi should have had two 

 careful observers of its habits over a century ago, 

 namely Azara and his friend and fellow naturalist, 

 the priest Noseda, and not one since. It is to give 

 my English readers a specimen of Azara's writing 

 that I have introduced the Chopi, the only bird 

 described in this book which was not known to me 

 from my own observation. 



Evidently Azara was very familiar with it, for he 

 described it lovingly and at great length, his history 

 of it being one of the most charming things in his 

 work. According to him the Chopi is a highly 

 sagacious bird, and although a frequent visitor to 

 courtyards and verandas of houses in Paraguay, too 

 shy and suspicious to be caught with snares. It 

 has a strong and easy flight, and readily attacks any 

 large bird passing near, following it persistently in 

 the air, or, pouncing down, fastens itself on its 

 enemy's back. If the Caracara Eagle (Polyborus) 

 alights in order to shake off its persecutor, the Chopi 

 perches at a distance of a few feet, where it assumes 

 an indifferent manner ; but no sooner does the 

 Caracara allow its attention to wander from its 

 adversary than it is again subjected to fresh insult. 

 These attacks on so large and powerful a species 



