(LITTLE WATERHEN.)
+Ortygometra melanops+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 505 (R.
Uruguay). +Porphyriops melanops+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p.
140; _iid. P. Z. S._ 1868, p. 461, et 1869, p. 634 (Buenos
Ayres); _Durnford, Ibis_, 1877, p. 195 (Buenos Ayres).
_Description._--Above olivaceous; head darker; wings brown;
wing-coverts tinged with chestnut; outer secondaries more or less
distinctly margined with white: beneath cinereous; middle of belly
and crissum white; flanks olivaceous, spotted with white; bill dark
olive, with the tip yellowish; feet hazel: whole length 9·0 inches,
wing 5·0, tail 2·0. _Female_ similar.
_Hab._ South America.
In the southern part of the Argentine country the Little Waterhen is a
summer visitant, and very abundant in the marshes along the Plata. In
language and habits it is like the Coots: it is not often seen on land,
and feeds principally as it swims about in a jerky manner among the
floating weeds. It appears in October, migrating exclusively, I think,
by night; and after the autumnal departure an individual is rarely seen.
By day they are shy and retiring, but scatter abroad in the evening,
frequently uttering their hollow mysterious cry, called _the witch
laugh_ by superstitious people, and resembling a sudden burst of
hysterical laughter, the notes beginning loud and long, becoming brief
and hurried as they die away.