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10

Aramides cacanea, June 19, 1960, III.

previous days. Perhaps the LC pattern is in process of disappearing - at least temporarily (like the corresponding pattern of the Tinamous)? Or maybe the birds just don't feel as "lost" when isolated now as earlier. (Their eyesight is certainly improving. They fixate me now from at least 10-20 ft away).

It is possible that chirps are also becoming slightly rarer. It was my impression that the birds uttered fewer chirps when handled tonight than yesterday. At least, they had to be handled more roughly and/or for longer periods of time before they would utter chirps.

In the normal course of events, when they are all together in their cage, they utter only Peeps and Trlls now. No chirps or LC Notes.

They are feeding from the ground quite frequently now.

I noticed one peculiar reaction tonight which I have not described before. When a bird is handled, especially or only when it is held on its back or upside down, it frequently shakes its head repeatedly, and more or less rapidly, from side to side. Often quite vibratory in general effect. Always quite silent (at the same time, the neck is usually stretched upward and/or forward - presumably an attempt on the part of the bird to "right" itself.) This shaking always stops when the struggling bird utters chirps, but is usually resumed immediately after and between chirps.

This shaking was performed by the birds when handled yesterday as well as when handled today.

I don't know what its significance might be. It doesn't look like a display - yet.

Transcription Notes:
Unknown word: _namous? __amous?