162 Mr. H. Durnford^s Notes from the 



horses^ cattle, sheep, or other carrion, and it is said some- 

 times to pick out the eyes of very young sheep. On Sep- 

 tember 18th an undoubtedly genuine egg was sent me from 

 Entre Rios. A nest I found myself near Belgrano was in 

 the middle of a large swamp ; it was a massive structure, 

 composed of sticks and lined with a little coarse hair and 

 shecp^s Avool, and was full of putrid bits of horse-skin and 

 bones of fish ; it measured 5 feet round and 1^ deep, and 

 contained three young ones about a week old. Two of these 

 I preserved, leaving one in the nest ; but it was gone on 

 October 6th, and the nest relined with cow's-hair, evidently 

 for a second brood. On the 13th no eggs had been laid. 



PHALACROCORACIDiE. 



Phalacrocorax brasilianus I often see, I shot one, March 

 25th, on Flores Island. 



Ardeid^. 

 Ardea cocoi is tolerably common both in Banda Oriental 

 and the banks of this river. On October 3rd I saw a Little 

 Bittern, probably Ardetta involucris. I have also met with 

 another species of Heron, which I take to he Ardea sibilatrix ; 

 but I have not yet made it out satisfactorily, 



CiCONIIDjE. 



Ciconia maguari is common in every marsh of any extent. 



Plataleid^. 

 Falcinellus igneus is very common ; it has a strong smell, 

 owing to the carrion it eats. During the last fortnight in 

 September I noticed a large flock flying northwards ; a 

 friend who lives on the other side of Buenos Ayres noticed 

 one also. There are still (Oct. loth) some about here. 



Palamedeid^. 

 Chauna chavaria is common on all sides of Buenos Ayres. 

 On October 3rd I observed a pair near here ; but I have not 

 yet ascertained if they breed in the neighbourhood. When 

 wounded it is said to defend itself with its formidable spur. 



