PLEGADIS.—HARPIPRION. 195 
built in reed-beds, being neatly made of dead rushes and supported by the growing 
plants. The birds build in communities, generally in the same districts as the Herons, 
but, as a rule, slightly apart from them. The eggs are three in number and of a deep 
bluish-green colour. 
HARPIPRION. 
Harpiprion, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1232; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvi. p. 25 (1898). 
This genus belongs to that section of the Ibises which has the front of the tarsus 
reticulated and covered with hexagonal scales. The plumage is of a dark metallic 
hue, with the head densely feathered and having a slight crest of metallic-green plumes 
‘on the nape. The lores and chin are bare, as well as a line along the sides of the 
throat. | | 
Only one representative of the genus is known, widely distributed throughout 
South America and reaching northward to the State of Panama. 
1. Harpiprion cayennensis. 
Courly vert de Cayenne, D’Aubent. Pl. Enl. viii. t. 820°. 
Tantalus cayennensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 652°. 
Harpiprion cayennensis, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 1282°; Cass. Pr. Acad. Philad. 1860, p. 197*; Lawr. 
Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 479°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 372°; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. 
Mus. xxvi. p. 257. 
Supra metallice bronzino-brunneus, olivaceo et viridi nitens; alis paullo viridioribus, tectricibus majoribus 
chalybeo nitentibus; remigibus chalybeo- vel purpureo-nigris, viridi et bronzino extus nitentibus ; 
secundariis intimis dorso concoloribus ; cauda saturate viridi, metallice purpureo nitente; pileo et facie 
laterali cum gutture toto sordide. cinerascenti-brunneis; pileo postico, nucha, collo postico et laterali 
plumis lanceolatis metallice viridibus ornatis; corpore reliquo subtus nigricante, olivaceo-viridi adum- 
brato; subcaudalibus metallice viridibus; subalaribus pectore concoloribus ; remigibus intus metallice 
chalybeo et viridi nitentibus: rostro et faciei area nuda virescenti-cinereis ; pedibus pallidioribus, virescenti- 
cinereis ; iride brunnea. Long. tota circa 20°5, alw 11-2, caude 5°6, culm, 4:35, tarsi 2°3. (Descr. maris 
adulti ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.) 
Tab. Pawama, Lion Hill Station (M*ZLeannan 5&7), River Nercua (Wood *).—Sovta 
America, Colombia’, Ecuador’, Guiana’, Brazil’. 
H. cayennensis is described as shy and suspicious in habit, frequenting streams and 
swamps in the forest districts of South America, where the bird gathers its prey, which 
consists largely of insects. It may often be seen during the day sitting on the branch 
of a tree, uttering a peculiar loud vibrating cry, taking flight towards evening. 
We have no information with regard to the nest and eggs of this species. 
