102 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
Those of the Ere aecnnomed species were slight 
platforms, placed on the tops of broken rushes, at 
a height of from two to three feet above the water, 
and barely a yard apart. 
“ The nests of A. candidissima were built up from 
the water to the height of a foot or a foot and a half, 
with a hollow on the top for the eggs; they were 
very compactly put together, of small dry twigs of a 
water-plant. A good many were distributed amongst 
those of A. egretta; but the majority were close 
together, at one side of the colony, where the reeds 
were taller and less broken. 
“The nests of WV. obscurus much resembled the 
latter in construction and material; but very few 
were interspersed amongst those of the other species, 
being retired to the side opposite A. candidissima, 
on the borders of some channels of clear water ; 
there they were placed amongst the high reeds, and 
a few yards apart from each other. 
“The larger Egrets remained standing on their 
nests till I was within twenty yards of them, and 
alighted again when I had passed. In this position 
they looked much larger than when flying. The 
smaller Egrets first flew up on to the reeds, and then 
immediately took to flight, not returning; while N. 
obscurus rose and sailed away, uttering a deep squawk, 
squawk, long before one came near the nest. 
“ At one side of the colony a nest of Ciconia 
maguari, with two full-grown young, seemed like the 
reigning house of the place. 
“It certainly was one of the finest ornithological 
