The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-22
PATACONiAN BIRDS.
Many of Them Indulge In Exceeding

Many of Them Indulge In Exceedingly
Eccentric Perfes mances.
The black-faced ibis of Patagonia, q
bird nearly as large as turkey, in
dulges in curious mad performance.
usually in the evening when feed
ing time is over. The birds of flock,
while 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. and
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-
Torrance. A dozen or twenty birds rise
up until they appear like small specks
in the sky and sometimes disappear
from sight altogether, and at that great
altitude they continue lowering in one
spot, often for an hour or longer, alter
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
heard, like applauding hand claps, even
after the birds have ceased to be visi-
BILE.
The rails active. sprightly birds with
powerful and varied 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, beau
tiful, active bird about the size OF the
fowl 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 rushes emits
a powerful cry, thrice repeated, and
this is note of invitation, quickly re-
sponded to by other birds from all sides
as they hurriedly repair to the usual
place. In a few moments they appear,
to the number of dozen or twenty,
bursting from the rushes and running
into the open space and instantly be-
ginning the performance. This is tre-
mendous screaming concert. The
screams they utter have a certain resem-
blance to the human voice exerted to its
~ toh Of
terror, frenzy and despair. A long,
piercing shrek, astonishing for its
vehemence and power, is succeeded by
lower note, as if in the first the crea-
ture had we'll nigh exhausted itself;
this double scream is repeated several
times, and followed by other sounds, re-
sembling, as they rise and fall, half
smothered cries of pain and means Of
anguish. Suddenly the unearthly
shrieks are renewed in all their power.
While screaming, the birds rush from
side to side, as if possessed with mad
ness. the wings spread and vibrating, the
long beak wide open and raised vertical
ly. This exhibition lasts three or four
minutes, after which the assembly
peacefully breaks up.
The singular wattled, wing-spurred
and long-toed jacana has a remarkable
performance, which seems specially de-
signed to bring out the concealed beauty
of the silky, greenish-golden wing
quilts. The birds go singly or in pairs,
and a dozen or fifteen individuals may
be found in a marshy place feeding
within sight of one another. Occasion
ally, in response to note of invitation.
they all in moment leave off feeding
and fly to one spot, and forming close
cluster and emitting short, excited,
rapidly-repeated notes, display their
wings, like beautiful flags grouped
loosely together; some hold the wings
up vertically and motionless, others half
open and vibrating rapidly, while still
others wave them up and down with
slow, measured motion.
Magazine.
Center of the United States