68 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



Curiously enough/ like 'one of the boldest of our 

 small Hawks (Tinnunculus cinnamominus), they some- 

 times attack birds so much too strong and big for 

 them that they must know the assault will produce 

 more annoyance than harm* I was once watching 

 a flock of Coots feeding on a grassy bank, when a 

 passing Chimango paused in its flight, and, after 

 hovering over them a few moments, dashed down 

 upon them with such impetuosity that several birds 

 were thrown to the ground by the quick successive 

 blows of its wings. There they lay on their backs, 

 kicking, apparently too much terrified to get up, 

 while the Chimango deliberately eyed them for 

 some moments, then quietly flew away, leaving them 

 to dash into the water and cool their fright. Attacks 

 like these are possibly made in a sportive spirit, for 

 the Milvago is a playful bird, and, as with^many 

 other species, bird and mammal, its play always 

 takes the form of attack. 



Its inefficient weapons compel it to be more timid 

 than the Hawk, but there are many exceptions, and 

 in every locality individual birds are found dis- 

 tinguished by their temerity. Almost any shepherd 

 can say that his flock is subject to the persecutions 

 of at least one pair of lamb-killing birds of this 

 species. They prowl about the flock, and watch till 

 a small lamb is found sleeping at some distance from 

 its dam, rush upon it, and, clinging to its head, eat 

 away its nose and tongue. The shepherd is then 

 obliged to kill the lamb ; but I have seen many 

 lambs that have been permitted to survive the 



