388 HussEY, spying Birds of La Plata. [oct. 



kept as guardians. Besides, the Teru is an attractive bird, and is often 

 kept,in private gardens on that account. 



9. Gallinago paraguayse (VieilL). Paraguay Snipe. — Frequently 

 flushed from wet meadows and marsh-land where the grass was fairlj^ short. 

 In the small arroyo south of La Plata, mentioned in the introduction, this 

 bird was very common, notwithstanding the nearness of human habitations 

 and the frequent passing of hunters. In their general appearance and their 

 habits this snipe seemed to resemble G. delicaia of North America. 



10. Aramus scolopaceus (Gm.). " Carau " — The Courlan was 

 very plentiful in the marshes all aljout La Plata and their voices were among 

 the most familiar sounds of the swamp. They were very suspicious and 

 wary toward a man on foot, and would not allow an approach to within a 

 hundred and fifty yards without flying; yet I frequently noted that they 

 took no notice of passing trams though within fifty yards of the track. I 

 never saw these birds anywhere except in the open marsh; but I was told 

 that they perch occasionally in trees. 



11. Butorides striata (Linn.). — This little blue heron was tolerably 

 common at La Plata, where it seemed to be solitary in its habits. I never 

 saw it anywhere except in the wooded regions at Los Talas — save when in 

 flight — and it seemed very much attached to its particular haunts, and 

 could be found there day after day. 



12. Ardetta involucris (VieilL). — I believe this heron to be tolerably 

 common in the open marsh where the grass grows tall, despite the fact that 

 I have very few records of it. So protective is its coloration that its detec- 

 tion is almost impossible even though the spot where it settles is marked 

 carefully. The bird is about the size of the Least Bittern {Ixobrychus 

 exilis), with the coloration of the North American Bittern {Bolaurus 

 lentiginosus), and like this latter bird, when trying to escape detection it 

 stands motionless among the reeds with bill pointed vertical, and it always 

 keeps its breast toward the invader. Only once was I able to find this 

 little heron after it had dropped into the grass. 



I was told that the common name for this bird is " Bruja " (witch), but 

 the name does not seem to be well known. What its significance is I do 

 not know. 



13. Metopiana peposaca (VieilL). Rosy-billed Duck.— This was 

 the only member of the family that I saw at all frequently. I always found 

 it in flocks of about half a dozen birds. 



14. Querquedula cyanoptera (VieilL). Cinnamon Teal. — Seen 

 in all but four times, and only during the early spring. 



15. Phalacrocorax vigua (VieilL). — I found this cormorant several 

 times; it was always in pairs, whether swimming or flying. I never saw it 

 perched. 



16. Polyborus tharus (MoL). " Carancho." The Caracara was 

 seldom seen. On two or three occasions I found a pair perched in the 

 trees along the shore of the river while the nets were being hauled in by the 

 fishermen. Except for these, the only ones seen were a pair noted several 



