142 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



for 200 kilometers) ; Lazcano, Urug'uay, February 7, 1921 ; Rio 

 Negro, Uruguay, February 18; Rio Lules, near Tucuman, Tucuinan. 

 April 1. At Las Palmas, Chaco, a male and two females (one pre- 

 served as a skeleton) were shot July 23, a male was taken at the 

 Riacho Pilaga, Formosa, August 9, a female at Puerto Pinasco, 

 Paraguay, September 8, and a male at Lazcano, Uruguay, Febru- 

 ary 7. 



Specimens from Demerara and north Brazil appear darker than 

 those from the south, but the series available shows some variation 

 in this respect. 



The aguajyiaso, a name for the jacana that has persisted since the 

 days of Azara and his friend Noseda, was found at times where 

 masses of floating vegetation choked narrow winding esteros 

 through the forests but more frequently was seen at the borders of 

 open lagoons. The birds frequented areas where aquatic plants cov- 

 ered the surface of the water so thickly as to present the deceptive 

 appearance of solid ground, where with their long widely spread 

 toes the jacanas sank only to a slight distance. In such situations, 

 though they walked about with long strides, apparently preoccu- 

 pied with momentous affairs, the sight of a hawk in the distance 

 was sufficient to send all scurrying to cover in the rushes. At times 

 oO or 40 jacanas were found scattered in little groups over an exten- 

 sive area. Though social and gregarious, they resented too close 

 approach on the part of their fellows with cackling calls and 

 threatening, upraised wings quivering above their bodies. Where 

 Avasherwomen came daily to wash piles of clothing that they bal- 

 anced expertly on their heads while working, in lieu of other dry 

 places to pile them, jacanas became tame and paid little attention 

 to men. In the central Chaco as the marshes dried during the win- 

 ter season the birds were restricted in range, and it was not unusual 

 to see them about ponds and mudholes surrounded by the thatch 

 huts of peons where the birds mingled with domestic ducks and 

 chickens of the door yards. 



As jacanas walk about over the water hyacinth and other growths 

 one may get a suggestion of red or brown in the plumage, but on the 

 whole they are as inconspicuous as most other waders, so that the 

 flash of greenish yellow as they spread their wings in flight or ex- 

 tend them, perhaps as a signal, above their backs is always a pleas- 

 ant surprise. In flight the rapidly moving wings form a strongly 

 contrasted color patch on either side of the body. In general ap- 

 pearance they suggest long-legged gallinules as they stalk about, a 

 resemblance that remains as they fly with neck and legs extended. 

 While feeding the birds often pull over bits of vegetation and then 

 peer at the exposed leaves. 



