NOETH AMERICAN MARSH BIRDS 37 



Scarlet ibises have defmito nesting districts in unfrequented parts 

 along the coast, particularly near the mouths of rivers. In speaking 

 of these nesting sites in Dutch Guiana, F. P. and A. P. Penard (1908) 

 say (translated) : 



Among the largest nesting colonies, or so-called " Fiamingo-nissi," in Surinam, 

 are those of the Hermina flats, Via-via flats, and the banks of the Motkreek. 

 At Hermina flats there is a mangrove island of not more than two acres in 

 extent, where scarlet ibises breed in such great numbers that the mangroves 

 appear to be, as it were, spattered \vith blood. 



They further say: 



Old, blood-colored birds begin breeding first, after which the rest follow. 

 Hunters and fishermen in Surinam ai'e unanimous in declaring that the scarlet ibis 

 builds no nests, but makes use of those of the sabakoes (herons and egrets) especially 

 Leucophoyjc candidissima, whose young of the second brood they throw out of 

 the nest. Schomburgk a'so mentions this in his "Guiana Reisen," and D. E. 

 Mackintosh asserts that he has on several occasions seen the scarlet ibis throw 

 young herons out of their nest. After the victory the conquerors sometimes 

 enlarge the nest. 



C. A. Lloyd (1897), who records Mr. Mackintosh's observations, 

 referred to above, writes: 



D. E. Mackintosh, who has paid much attention to the coast birds of Surinam, 

 asserts that the scarlet ibis or currie-currie, Eudocimus ruber, never builds a 

 nest of any sort, but takes forcible possession of those of the small egret, Ardea 

 candidissima, for the purpose of depositing its eggs. He states that he has often 

 witnessed the ibis in the act of tumbling the young egrets out of the nest. 



The small egret breeds in vast " rookeries " along the seacoast, and Mr. Mack- 

 intosh has seen several square acres of low courida bushes dotted with their nests. 

 During the breedin;; season large numbers of yoimg egrets fall a prey to the 

 black carrion vulture, Cafharista atrata, which may be seen hovering around the 

 breeding grounds on the lookout for a chance to swoop down on some unguarded 

 nest and carry off its contents. The old birds vigorously defend their nests 

 against attacks of the vulture, but as the scarlet ibis appears on the scone they 

 immediately desert their charges and fly away. 



Of their breeding on the island of Cavianna at the mouth of the 

 Amazon, Gottfried Hagman (1907) writes (translated): 



Mexiana and the near-by island, Cavianna, certainly fulfill the requirements of 

 an Eldorado for water birds. Unlike Mexiana, Cavianna possesses in its interior 

 "aturiaes" (Drepanocarpus-Bestdndc), which, on account of the tangle of bran- 

 ches arc almost inaccessible to man. Here nest in company big colonies of countless 

 pairs of Tantalus ajaja and Eudocimus, which, owing to the absence of aturiaes, 

 never build on Mexiana. 



Edwards (1847) gives the following interesting description of a 

 nesting colony near Jungcal, at the mouth of the Amazon: 



Turning suddenly we left the bordering forest for a canebrake, and instantly 

 broke full upon the rookery. In this part the scarlet ibis particularly had 

 nested; anrl the bended tops of the canes were covered by half-grown birds in 



