166 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



voice exerted to its utmost pitch, and expressive of 

 agony, frenzy, and despair. A long, piercing shriek, 

 astonishing for its strength and vehemence, is suc- 

 ceeded by a lower note, as if in the first one the 

 creature had wellnigh exhausted itself* The double 

 scream is repeated several times ; then follow other 

 sounds, resembling, as they rise and fall, half-sup- 

 pressed cries of pain and moans of anguish. Suddenly 

 the unearthly shrieks are renewed in all their power. 

 This is kept up for some time, several birds scream- 

 ing in concert ; it is renewed at intervals throughout 

 the day, and again at set of sun, when the woods and 

 marshes resound with the extravagant uproar. I have 

 said that several birds unite in screaming ; this is 

 invariably the case. I have enjoyed the rare pleasure 

 of witnessing the birds at such times ; and the 

 screams then seem a fit accompaniment to their 

 disordered gestures and motions. 



A dosen or twenty birds have their place of reunion 

 on a small area of smooth, clean ground surrounded 

 by rushes or sedges ; and by lying well concealed 

 and exercising some patience, one is enabled to watch 

 their proceedings. First one bird is heard to utter 

 a loud metallic-sounding note, three times repeated, 

 and somewhat like the call of the Guinea-fowl. It 

 issues from the reeds or rushes, and is a note of 

 invitation quickly responded to by other birds on 

 every hand as they all hurriedly repair to the 

 customary spot. In a few moments, and almost 

 simultaneously, the birds appear, emerging from 

 the reeds and running into the open space, where 



