187G.] MR. W. H. HUDSON ON THE HABITS OF RAILS. 105 



from side to side. It has at such times a veiy sprightly appearance, 

 whilst the long tricoloured beak, the blood-red eye, and vermilion 

 legs admirably contrasting with the fine dark plumage, give it some 

 claims to beauty. At other times it has a hollow call-note with a 

 puzzling ventriloquism in the sound ; this note is sometimes repeated 

 at brief intervals for an hour at a time ; and whilst uttering it the 

 bird stands, as usual, on a slight eminence, but in a listless attitude, 

 and without any of the nods and becks and other frisky gestures. 

 It has also a kind of song, frequently heard ; the common people 

 fancy it resembles the distant braying of an ass ; hence the vernacular 

 name " Burrito," by which the bird is known in the Plata. It is 

 heard occasionally in the day, but oftenest in the evening, and is a 

 confused performance, uttered without pause, and composed of 

 several long shrill notes, modulated and mingled with others hollow 

 and booming. These notes can be heard a thousand yards away ; 

 but far or near they always sound remote. 



I can say little of Porzana erythrops, called with us "Gallinetita," 

 or Little Hen, though it visits Buenos Ayres annually, breeds, and 

 is abundant there. In language and habits it is like a Coot, not 

 often seen on land, and feeding principally as it swims about in a 

 jerky manner amongst the floating weeds. It appears in October, 

 migrating exclusively, I think, by night ; and after the autumnal 

 departure an individual is rarely seen. By day they are shy and 

 retiring, but scatter abroad in the evening, frequently uttering their 

 strange hollow cry, called " witch-laughter" by superstitious people, 

 and resembling a sudden burst of hysterical laughter, the notes be- 

 ginning loud and long, becoming brief and hurried as they die away. 



The Aramides ipecaha, called in Buenos Ayres " Gallineta," is 

 a most interesting bird. Without any brilliant tints, there is some- 

 thing so pleasing to the eye in the various hues of its plumage — 

 light brown and drab-colour, blue, grey, buff, and black — all these 

 colours so harmoniously disposed (the effect heightened by the yel- 

 low beak, golden-red eye, and vermilion legs), that I do not know a 

 handsomer waterfowl. 



They are found as far south as the thirty-fifth parallel of latitude, 

 and are most abundant along the marshy borders of the Plata, fre- 

 quenting the vast reed-beds and forests of water-loving Erythrina 

 crista-galli. When they are not persecuted they are bold pugnacious 

 birds, coming out of the reeds by day and attacking the domestic 

 poultry about the houses and even in the streets of the villages situ- 

 ated on the borders of their marshy haunts. But when compelled 

 to place Man on the list of their enemies, it is a difficult matter to 

 get a sight of one ; for, like all birds that rise laboriously, they are 

 vigilant to excess, and keep themselves so well concealed that one 

 may pass through their haunts every day of the year, and the 

 Ipicaha still be to him no more than a "wandering voice." But 

 even persecution does not entirely obliterate a certain inquisitive 

 boldness that is one of the strongest traits of their character. Usually 

 they roam singly in quest of food, but have reunions in the evening 

 and occasionally during the day, especially in gloomy weather. 



