92 ARDEID^E. 



inland waters of South America north of Buenos Ayres; but two other 

 species are found in Southern Chili and Patagonia, which may probably 

 likewise occur in the southern provinces of the Republic*. 



Azara tells us that this Cormorant is not uncommon in Paraguay, and 

 Mr. Barrows found it an " abundant resident " at Concepcion in 

 Entrerios. 



In the vicinity of Buenos Ayres several well-known authorities have 

 met with it, and Durnford found it common and resident in Chupat. 



The name of Brazilian Cormorant, which naturalists have bestowed 

 on this species, is certainly inappropriate and misleading, since the 

 bird is very abundant in La Plata, where the native name for it is 

 Vigud ; and it is also very common in the Patagonian rivers. It 

 is always seen swimming, sinking its heavy body lower and lower 

 down in the water when approached, until only the slanting snake-like 

 head and neck are visible ; or else sitting on the bank, or on a dead 

 projecting branch, erect, and with raised beak, and never moving 

 from its statuesque attitude until forced to fly. It always rises reluc- 

 tantly and with great labour, and has a straight rapid flight, the wings 

 beating incessantly. By day it is a silent bird, but when many indi- 

 viduals congregate to roost on the branches of a dead tree overhanging 

 the water they keep up a concert of deep, harsh, powerful notes all 

 night long, which would cause any person not acquainted with their 

 language to imagine that numerous pigs or peccaries were moving about 

 with incessant gruntings in his neighbourhood. 



Order IX. HEEODIONES. 



Fam. XXXV. ARDEID^, OR HERONS. 



About thirty different species of the fish-eating family Ardeidse occur 

 within the limits of the Neotropical Region. Of these, eight or nine 

 are found in greater or less abundance in the provinces of the Argentine 

 Republic. Five of these species are widely distributed in North and 

 South America ; the others are restricted to the southern portions of 

 the New World. 



* Namely, P. tmpm'afts, King, and P. albiventris (Lesson). See Zool. Chall., Birds, 

 p. 121. It was probably one of these two species that Durnford found nesting en 

 Tombo Point, south of Chupat (cf. Ibis, 1878, p. 399). 



