yPECAHA RAIL 165 



When surprised on the open ground the Ypecaha 

 lies close, like a Tinamu, refusing to rise until 

 almost trodden upon. It springs up with a loud- 

 sounding whirr, rushes violently through the air till, 

 gaining the reeds, it glides a few yards and then 

 drops; its flight is thus precisely like that of the 

 Tinamu, and is more sounding and violent than 

 that of the Grouse or Partridge. 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 

 at a distance as they hastily advance to the spot 

 where the warning was sounded. The cry is repeated 

 at irregular intervals, first on one side, then on 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 sur- 

 vivors gained their refuge than they turned about 

 to watch and follow me, sounding their powerful 

 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 at other times, 

 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 to the human 



