122 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
on the water, and if thers only one suitable tree 
all the birds crowd on to it, and in the morning 
scatter, each family or pair flying away to spend the 
day in its customary feeding-ground. 
The egg obtained by Dr. Cunningham at Elizabeth 
Island is thus described by Prof. Newton (Ibis, 1870, 
p. 502): “* Dull surface of a pale greenish white 
with engrained blotches (mostly small) of neutral 
tint, and some few blotches, spots, and specks of 
dull deep brown ; towards the larger end some hair- 
like streaks of a lighter shade of the same, and so 
far having an Ibidine or Plataleine character.” 
BLUE IBIS 
Harpiprion cerulescens 
White forehead joined to white bar above and behind the eye; top 
of head and crest dark brown, with greenish tinge; throat and neck 
covered with long narrow feathers, light brown with pinkish tinge in 
certain lights; upper parts bluish bronzy green ; wings like the back, 
in some lights the feathers have a silvery gloss; primaries dark blue ; 
tail dark green; under parts brownish grey, with pink reflections in 
some lights ; length 33, wing 15.5 inches. i 
Tus noble Ibis ranges from Brazil, south of the 
Amazons, to the pampas of Buenos Ayres. It is a 
bird of the marshes, nowhere abundant, and yet is 
exceedingly well known to most people in the Argen- 
tine country : it would be difficult indeed to overlook 
a species possessing so peculiar and powerful a 
voice. In the vernacular it is called Vandiria, with 
