22 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
rise to a considerable height in the air and fly wildly 
about, chirping for a few minutes, after which they 
retire to roost. 
When approached they frequently rise up several 
feet from the ground and flutter in the air, chirping 
sharply, with breast towards the intruder. This is 
a habit also found in Synallaxine species inhabiting 
the grassy plains. But as a rule the Cachilas are the 
tamest of feathered creatures, and usually creep 
reluctantly away on their little pink feet when 
approached. If the pedestrian is a stranger to their 
habits they easily delude him into attempting their 
capture with his hat, so little is their fear of man. 
To sing, the Cachila mounts upwards almost 
vertically, making at intervals a fluttering pause, 
accompanied with a few hurried notes. When he 
has thus risen to a great height (but never beyond 
sight as Azara says) he begins the descent slowly, 
the wings inclining upwards; and, descending, he 
pours forth long impressive strains, each ending 
with a falling inflection of with two or three short 
throat-notes as the bird pauses fluttering in mid- 
air, and then renewed successively until, when the 
singer is within three or four feet of the earth, without 
alighting he re-ascends as before to continue the 
performance. It is a very charming melody, and 
heard always on the treeless plains when there is 
no other bird-music, with the exception of the trilling 
and grasshopper-like notes of a few Synallaxine 
species. But in character it is utterly unlike the 
song of the Skylark with its boundless energy, hurry, 
