i68 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



any more than a human being with clouded reputa- 

 tion will comport himself naturally with the eyes 

 of a detective on him. While we are observing 

 the bird, the bird watches us : of all its curious 

 doings when we are out of sight and mind we see 

 nothing. The only way to learn the habits of a species 

 like the Ypecaha— wary, intelligent, and passing its 

 life behind a screen of rushes — ^is to domesticate it j 

 for although in this state some instincts are blunted 

 and others remain in abeyance, they are not obliter- 

 ated. It might surprise some that I speak of the 

 Ypecaha as an inteUigent bird, since it is a member 

 of the ** stupid family," as Professor Parker has called 

 the Rails ; but in spite of the very profound admir- 

 ation I feel for that illustrious anatomist, I believe 

 he is wrong about these birds : there is, to my mind, 

 very much more stupidity in the Anserine and 

 Limicoline families, while the Ypecaha has always 

 seemed to me a singularly intelligent bird. 



Fortunately Azara was able to give an account of 

 one of these birds in a domestic state, which shows 

 that it makes a very sprightly and entertaining al- 

 though a mischievous pet. It was taken young and 

 allowed to run about at liberty with the poultry at 

 the house of a village doctor in Paraguay. When 

 full-grown it was very domineering, and became the 

 tyrant of the pouhry-yard. Occasionally a cock had 

 the courage to face it, and then a singular combat 

 would ensue ; the Ypecaha, moving with astonishing 

 rapidity, putting its head low, would charge, and, 

 thrusting its head between the cock's legs, fling him 



