1 64 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



all birds that rise laboriously, they are vigilant to 

 excess, and keep themselves so well concealed that 

 the sportsman may pass through their haunts every 

 day of the year and the Ypecaha still be to him no 

 more than a " wandering voice/ ' But even persecu- 

 tion does not obliterate a certain inquisitive bold- 

 ness which characterises them. Usually they roam 

 singly in quest of food, but have reunions in the 

 evening and occasionally during the day, especially 

 in gloomy weather. On misty days they often wander 

 to a distance from the covert, walking with an easy, 

 somewhat stately grace, jerking the tail at every 

 stride, and running with a velocity no man can 

 equal. Where there are woods they usually fly when 

 disturbed into a tree ; and it is in connection with 

 this habit that the Ypecaha sometimes makes a 

 curious mistake in places where it has not been 

 much shot at. One day, while pushing my way 

 through a dense growth of rushes, I saw two Ypecahas 

 not fifteen yards from me, on the horizontal branch 

 of a tree, to which they had evidently flown for 

 safety. I was anxious to secure them, but surprised 

 at their temerity ; and wishing to find out its cause, 

 I approached them still nearer, and then stood for 

 some time observing them. It was easy to see that 

 they fancied themselves quite safe from me while 

 off the ground. In the most unconcerned manner 

 they continued strutting up and down along the 

 branch, jerking their tails, and turning about this 

 way and that, as if to tantalise their baffled enemy 

 by ostentatiously displaying their graces. 



