Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-09-05
PATAooNIAN BIRDS.
Many OF Them Indulge In ExeeedlnI
Eccentric Performances.

Many OF Them Indulge la Exceedingly
Eccentric Performances.
The black,faced ibis OF Patagonia, a
bird nearly as large as turkey, in
dulges in curious mad performance,
usually in the evening when feed
ing time is over. Tho birds of a flock,
whilo winging their way to the roosting
place, all at once seemed possessed with
frenzy. simultaneously dashing down
ward with amazing violence, doubling
about In the most eccentric manner, aud
when close to the surface rising again TO
repeat the action, all the while making
the air palpitate for miles around with
their hard metallic cries. Other ibises,
also birds of other genera, have similar
aerial performances.
The displays Of most ducks known to
me take the form of mock fights on the
water; one exception Is the handsome
and loquacious whistling widgeon of La
Plata, which has pretty aerial per-
formance. A dozen or twenty birds riso
up until they appear like small spccks
In the sky and sometimes disappear
from sight altogether, and at that great
altitude they continue hovering in ono
spot often for an hour or longer, altor-
natingly closing and separating, the
fine, bright, whistling notes and -four
ishes OF the male curiously harmonizing
with the grave, measured notes of the
female, and every time they close they
slap one another on the wings so smart
ly that the sound can be distinctly
arI Ill an..1onIf..x h.. IL.
after tho birds have ceased TO be yisi-
bic.
The rails, active. sprighuy birds with
powerful and>yaried voices. are great
performers. but, owing to the nature OF
the ground they inhabit and to their
shy, suspicious character,it is not easy
to observe their antics The, finest OF
the Plantan rails is the ypecaha, a beau
tifui, active bird about the sizo OF tho
fowl A number Of ypecahas have their,
assembling place ON small area OF
smooth, level ground. just above the wa
ter, and hemmed In by dense rush beds.
First, one bird among the rushos emits
a powerful cry, thrice repeated, and
this is a note of invitation, quickly re-
sponded to by other birds from all sides
as they hurricdly repair to the usual
place. In a Jew moments they appear,
to the number OF dozen or twenty,
bursting from the rushcs and running
into the open space and instantly be-
ginning the performance. This Is tre-
screaming concert The |
screams they utter have certain rescm-
jlance to the human voice excrted to It's
Utmost pitch and expression OF extreme
error frenzy and despair. A long,
,iercing shrek, astonishing for its
iehemonce and power. is succeeded by
. lower note, as II in the first the crea-
.ure had well nigh exhausted itself;
this double scream is repeated several
times, and followed by other sounds, re-
semblins, as they rise and fall. half
smothored cries of pain and moans Of
anguish. Suddenly, the unearthly
shrieks are renewed In all their power.
While screaming, the birds rush from
'ide TO side, as II possessed with mad
iess. the wings spread and vibrating, the
ong boak wide open and raised vertical
y. This exhibition lasts three or four
after which tho assembly
breaks up.
The singular wattled, wing-spurred
md long-toed jacana has remarkable
performance, which seems specially de.
igned to bring out the concealed beauty
Il the silky. groenish-golden wing
uills. The birds go singly or in pairs, ..
nd a dozen or fifteen individuals NAV
q found in a marshy place feeding
within sight o! one another. Occasion
lly, in response TO note OF invitation,
hey all in moment leave off feeding
nd fly to one spot, and forming close .
iustcr and emitting short, excited,
apidly-repeated notes, display their
'ings. like beautiful flags grouped
oosely together; some hold the wings
p vertically and motionless, others half
pen and vibrating rapidly, while still
thers wave them up and down with
low. measured motion. -Longlnan's
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