(TATAUPA TINAMOU.)
+Crypturus tataupa+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 152; _Salvin, Ibis_,
1880, p. 364 (Salta); _White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 629, (Oran).
+Ynamb[=u] tat[=a]up[=a]+, _Azara, Apunt._ iii. p. 48.
_Description._--Above chestnut-brown; head and neck dark cinereous:
beneath cinereous; throat white; middle of belly white; flanks
and crissum varied with undulating bars of black and white; bill
yellowish; feet dark ashy: whole length 10·0 inches, wing 5·2, tail
1·8. _Female_ similar.
_Hab._ South Brazil, Paraguay, and Northern Argentina.
The Tataupa Tinamou was first described by Azara as an inhabitant of
Paraguay, whence it extends into the northern provinces of the Argentine
Republic. White obtained specimens among the undergrowth in the dense
forests of Campo Colorado, near Oran, and Durnford also met with it near
Salta.
To Azara's interesting account of the Tataupa's habits nothing has been
recently added. He says that this species inhabits woods and thickets,
and also approaches houses where it finds cover--hence the Guarani name,
which means a bird of the house. It lays four eggs of a fine purple
colour; and when driven from the nest flutters along the ground,
feigning lameness. It sings all the year round, and for power and
brilliance of voice is preeminent among this class of birds. After the
first note of its curious song there is an interval of eight seconds of
silence; then the note is repeated with shorter and shorter intervals,
until, becoming hurried, they run into a trill, followed by a sound
which may be written _chororó_, repeated three or four times. When
sitting close it tips forward, pressing its breast on its legs, so
that the rump is raised higher than the back, and opening the terminal
feathers of the body, it spreads them in a semicircle over the back
as if to conceal itself beneath them, and when looked at from behind
nothing is visible except this fan of feathers. The feathers are concave
with points inclining upward, and when thus disposed have a strange and
beautiful appearance.