2 50 A VES RDER RALL I FORMES. 



Of the ypecaha wood-rail of Argentina (Aramides ypecaha) Mr. Hudson, 

 the biographer of Argentine birds, has given many amusing details, and ho 

 credits the species with considerable intelligence, repudiating the idea that 

 this wood-rail is to be considered an ideal member of what has been 

 called a "stupid family" of birds. He writes : "On spying an intruder, 

 it immediately utters a powerful cry, in strength and intonation not unlike 

 that of the pea-fowl. This note. of alarm is answered by other birds ab a 

 distance as they hastily advance to the spot whence tho warning was 

 sounded. The cry is repeated at irregular intervals, first on one side, then 

 oil the other, as the birds change their position to dog the intruder's steps 

 and inspect him from the reeds. I have surprised parties of them in an open 

 space, and shot one or more ; but no sooner had the survivors gained their 

 refuge, than they turned about to watch and. follow me, sounding their power- 

 ful alarm the whole time. I have frequently been followed half a mile 

 through the rushes by them, and by lying close and mimicking their cries, 

 have always succeeded in drawing them about me. But the ypecaha's loudest 

 notes of alarm are weak compared with the cries he utters ab other timesj 

 when, untroubled with a strange presence, he pours out his soul in screams 

 and shrieks that amaze the listener with their unparalleled power. These 

 screams, in all their changes and modulations, have a resemblance to the 

 human voice, but of the human voice exerted to its utmost pitch, ar,d ex- 

 pressive of agony, frenzy, and despair. A long piercing shriek, astonishing 

 for its strength and vehemence, is succeeded by a lower note, as if in. the 

 first one the creature had well-nigh exhausted itself. The double scream ia 

 repeated several times ; then follow other sounds, resembling, as they rise 

 and fall, half-suppressed cries of pain and moans of anguish. Suddenly the 

 unearthly shrieks are renewed in ail their power. This is kept up for some 

 time, several birds screaming in concert ; it is renewed at intervals through- 

 out 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 scream- 

 ing ; 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 accom- 

 paniment to their disordered gestures and motions. A dozen or twenty 

 birds have their place of reunion on a small area of smooth, clean ground 

 surrounded by reeds ; and by lying well concealed and exercising some 

 patience, one is enabled to watch their proceedings. First one lf>ird 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, 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 they all immediately whirl about and begin the exhibi- 

 tion. Whilst screaming, they rush from side to side as if possessed with 

 frenzy, the wings spread and agitated, the beak wide open and raised 

 vertically. I never observed them fight or manifest anger towards each other 

 during these performances ; and, knowing the pugnacious spirit of the 



ypecahas, and how ready they are to seek a quarrel with birds of other 

 species, this at first surprised me, for I was then under the mistaken im- 

 pression that these gatherings were in some way related to the sexual instinct. 

 Whilst watching them I also remarked another circumstance. When con- 

 cealing myself amongst the rushes I have been compelled to place myself so 

 diaadvantageously, owing to the wet ground, that any single bird straying 



