1 91 9-] Cape San Antun'to, Buenos Ayres. 535 



a dozen or more." In October of the following year a large 

 flock was seen in the Rincones. None were chronicled again 

 until November of 1901, when one individual was noted 

 near the head-station in company with Gulls, and another 

 in the Palenque district feeding in a cangrejal and quite 

 alone. Since tiiat year it does not seem to have again come 

 under my observation. 



Claude Grant found it no nearer than Paraguay. 



331. Ajaja rosea Reichenb. Roseate Spoonbill. 



My former notes upon the Roseate Spoonbill were brief, 

 and at that time (1880) I had not yet discovered a breeding- 

 haunt of the species. 



To the first part there is not much to add, though, owing 

 to the striking beauty of the bird, its image occupies a large 

 space in the observer's memory and his diary. It is a great 

 frequenter of open lagunas (either fresh or salt water) and 

 small pools or ponds on the plains, and, being a spring 

 arrival, is naturally associated with the fine weather and 

 vivid vegetation of that season. Unceasingly active whilst 

 feeding, one's attention is caught and held by the bird's 

 movements from the moment that the rosy colour is observed 

 far off — whether it is a single hird, a pair, or a flock. Here 

 we have none of the Heron or Egret's watchful immobility. 

 "Cucharon '' or Big Spoon is its local designation, and the 

 spatula-like bill sweeps constantly from side to side as its 

 owner advances, rapidly or leisurely, quartering systemati- 

 cally the pond or mud-hole. On the wing again — say, a 

 V-shaped flock of perhaps fifty, with a background of blue 

 sky and fleecy clouds : can one imagine a more beautiful 

 arrangement of delicate colouring ? On these occasions 

 the roseate tint is generally most in evidence, but when the 

 sun happens to catch the proper angle for the carmined 

 wing- and tail-coverts the brilliant effect produced is unique. 



The 6th of September is my earliest chronicled date of 

 its appearance (with a flock of no fewer than thirty). By the 

 end of March it has generally disappeared again, though a 

 possible straggler may remain into the ensuing month. 



