WOOD-IBIS 317. 
the ornithological works of that country it is described 
as “‘a hermit standing listless and alone on the 
topmost limb of some tall decayed cypress, its neck 
drawn in upon its shoulders, and its enormous bill 
resting like a scythe upon its breast.” 
It there nests on tall trees, sometimes in company 
with Egrets, and lays three white eggs. 
There are three species of Stork in Argentina, 
the two described and the famous Jabiru, Mycteria 
americana. 
This is a majestic bird, the largest of the American 
Storks ; it stands five feet high, and the wings have 
a spread of nearly eight feet. The entire plumage is 
pure white, the head and six inches of the neck 
covered with a naked black skin; from the back 
part extend two scarlet bands, the skin being glossy 
and exceedingly loose, and runs narrowing down to 
the chest. When the bird is wounded or enraged 
this loose red skin is said to swell out like a bladder, 
changing to an intensely fiery scarlet hue. The 
name Jabiru is doubtless due to this circumstance, 
for Azara (who gives the Guarani name of the Stork 
as Aiaiat) says that the Indian word Yabirii signifies 
“blown out with the wind.” 
The Jabiru is but rarely found near Buenos Ayres, 
but occurs more frequently in Misiones, and in other 
districts on the northern frontier of the Republic. 
It nests on high trees, as has been recorded by 
Brown,’ and is said to lay “‘ blue-green ”’ eggs. 
‘ Canoe and Camp-Life in British Guiana, p. 272. 
