268 On the Aquatic Habits of the Chajd. 



or three examples at Darjeeling^ and in no case did I hear 

 the note. This is a decidedly Eastern species, extending, as 

 far as known, from Darjeeling to Shillong, It was rare at 

 the former place, where P. humii was common. I mention 

 it in case it may lead some collector in India to complete 

 the natnral history of this small bird, about which so little 

 is known. 



XIX. — Nute on the Aquatic Habits of the Chajd (Chauna 

 chavaria). By R. Lydekker, F.Z.S. 



During my recent visit to Argentina, I had, while staying 

 at the estancia of Las Bandnrrias, near Colina, on the Great 

 Southern Railway of Buenos Aires, the opportunity of 

 observing the habits of a pair of Chajas, or Crested 

 Screamers (^Chauna chavaria^, which were nesting m a 

 small laguna a couple of miles or so from the house. 



The result of my observations was to the effect that the 

 statement of Mr. W, H. Hudson, in Sclater and Hudson's 

 * Argentine Ornithology ' *, that the Chaja " occasionally 

 swims," is, in this instance at least, scarcely an adequate 

 description of the real habits of the birds. 



The laguna in question contained large growths of reeds 

 and flags, forming masses intersected by open channels, and at 

 the time of my visit (the latter part of October 1893) growing 

 to a considerable height above the water. Like other 

 similar spots in this part of Argentina, it was tenanted by 

 large flocks of Ducks and Coots, while Black-necked Swans, 

 small parties of the lovely red South-American Flamingo, 

 and a few Storks were generally also to be seen. 



On my first visit to the laguna, for the purpose of duck- 

 shooting, I was considerably puzzled by seeing a pair of 

 large grey birds, with short beaks, and looking somewhat 

 like huge grey Geese, swimming about unconcernedly 

 among the other denizens of the lagoon, since I had not the 



* Vol. ii. p. 118. 



