of the Lower Pilcomuyo. IIO 



Very common and conspicuous on tlie Pilcomayo, where it 

 is to be seen picking its way slowly along the low and muddy 

 margin of the water, carrying its tail cocked upright, and 

 giving it a sharp jerk every few paces. It is also to be found 

 in numbers in the freshwater marshes, where it lives amongst 

 the bulrushes. The Paca-a is one of the shiest birds occur- 

 ring on the river, keeping a constant and most vigilant look- 

 out, and on the appearance of a stranger at once betaking 

 itself to the shelter of the vegetation, through which it 

 rapidly makes its way without so much as moving a stalk of 

 grass to betray its Avhereabouts. It only takes to flight if 

 almost trodden upon, and it occasionally perches on a tree. 

 The call-note is a low soft " cluck." 



During the evening more especially, but also occasionally 

 at other times, several birds collect together and produce a 

 most extraordinary noise by their cries, resembling a con- 

 versation carried on in loud shrieks, now and then varied by 

 all the birds uniting to cry out *' oh-whauchee, oh-whauchce," 

 in an endless variety of tone and expression. 



156. PoRPUvRio PARVUS (Bodd.) : Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. 

 p. 140. 



(No. 208, S ; 20G, ?). Fortin Page. November 2nth, 

 1890. Toba, " Nushid6t.^' 



Uncommon. In freshwater mar^hes among bulrushes. 



[Widely distributed in South America, but not previously 

 registered in the Argentine list. — P. L. S.] 



157. PORPHYRIOPS MELANOPS. (0/;. cit. ii. p. 150.) 

 Observed on a lagoon near Pilcomayo. I had become 



familiar with this species on the pampas at Mate Grande, so 

 am pretty sure of its identity. 



158. Aramus scolopaceus. (Op. ril. ii. p. 159.) 

 Obtained near Portiu Nuevc, also near Fortin Page. 



159. Carfama cristata. {Op. cit. ii. p. 161.) 

 Toba, " Lashinik." 



The cry of the Cariama is frequently heard in the open 

 ■palmar, so'raewhat resembling the cries of Aramides yjJCcahd, 



