112 PLATALEID^l. 



lasts they make the air resound for miles around with their loud per- 

 cussive screams. 



In Patagonia I first observed this Ibis roosting on tall trees ; and, 

 according to Azara, it possesses the same habit in Paraguay. He says 

 that all the flocks within a circuit of some leagues resort to one spot to 

 sleep, and prefer tall dead trees bordering on the water, and if there is 

 only one suitable tree all the birds crowd on to it, and in the morning 

 scatter, each family or pair flying away to spend the day in its custo- 

 mary feeding-ground. 



The egg obtained by Dr. Cunningham at Elizabeth Island is thus 

 described by Prof. Newton (Ibis, 1870, p. 502) * : " Dull surface of a 

 pale greenish white with engrained blotches (mostly small) of neutral 

 tint, and some few blotches, spots, and specks of dull deep brown ; 

 towards the larger end some hair-like streaks of a lighter shade of the 

 same, and so far having an Ibidine or Plataleine character/'' 



329. HARPIPRION C^RULESCENS (Vieill.). 

 (PLUMBEOUS IBIS.) 



Harpiprion caerulescens, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 127; Gibson, Ibis, 1880, 

 p. 159 (Buenos Ayres). Molybdophanes caerulescens, Elliot, P. Z. S. 

 1877, p. 503. Ibis plumbea, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 510 (Entrerios) . 

 Ibis caerulescens, ScL et Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 635 (Buenos Ayres). 



Description. A white bar commencing above and behind the eye covers 

 the forehead ; top of head and lengthened nuchal crest dark brown, with a slight 

 greenish tinge ; throat and neck covered with long narrow feathers, light brown, 

 in certain lights having a pinkish tinge ; upper parts pale bronzy green ; wings 

 like the back, in some lights the feathers have a silvery gloss ; primaries deep 

 blue, greenish towards the edges of the outer webs ; tail dark green : entire under- 

 parts brownish grey, with light pink reflexions in certain lights ; bill black ; feet 

 yellow : whole length 33*0 inches, wing 15*5, tail 7*5, bill 6-5. Female similar. 



Hab. South-east Brazil and Argentina. 



This noble Ibis ranges from Brazil, south of the Amazons, to the 

 pampas of Buenos Ayres. It is a bird of the marshes, nowhere abun- 

 dant, and yet is exceedingly well known to most people in the Argentine 

 country : it would be difficult indeed to overlook a species possessing 

 so peculiar and powerful a voice. In the vernacular it is called Van- 

 duria, with the addition of aplomado, or barroso, or de las lagunas, to 

 distinguish it from the Winter Vanduria. The word is also frequently 

 spelt Manduria or Banduria, but it does not come from Bandada (flock), 



* See also figure, P. Z. S. 1871, pi. iv. fig. 8. 



