KHEA. — IHiea Americdna 



first I heard it, while standing in the midst of some sand hillocks, I thought it was made 

 l:)y some wild beast, for it is such a sound that one cannot tell from whence it comes or 

 from how far distant. 



When we were at Bahia Blanca, in the months of September and October, the e^o-s 

 were found in extraordinary numbers all over the country. They either lie scattered 

 singly, in which case they are never hatched, and are called by the Spaniards " huaehos " 

 or they are collected together into a hollow excavation, which forms the nest. Out of the 

 four nests which I saw, three contained twenty-two eggs each, and the fourth twenty- 

 seven. In one day's hunting on horseback sixty-four eggs wei-e found ; forty-four of these 

 were in two nests, and the remaining twenty, scattered huaclios. Tire Gauchos 

 nnanimously affirm, and there is no reason to doubt their statement, that tlie male bird 

 alone hatches the eggs, and that he, for some time afterwards, accompanies the younrr. 

 The cock, while in the nest, lies very close ; I have myself almost ridden over one. It ?s 

 asserted that at such times they are occasionally fierce, and even dangerous, and tliat they 

 have been known to attack a man on horseback, trying to kick and leaj? on him. My 

 informant pointed out to me an old man whom he had seen much terrified by one of these 

 birds chasing him." 



