1833.] THE SCISSOR-BEAK. 99 



lower mandible, differently from every other bird, is an inch and a half 

 longer than the upper. In a lake near Maldonado, from which the 

 water had been nearly drained, and which, in consequence, swarmed 

 with small fry, I saw several of these birds, generally in small flocks, 

 flying rapidly backwards and forwards close to the surface of the lake. 

 They kept their bills wide open, and the lower mandible half buried in 

 the water. Thus skimming the surface, they ploughed it in their 

 course: the water was quite smooth, and it formed a most curious 

 spectacle to behold a flock, each bird leaving its narrow wake on the 

 mirror-like surface. In their flight they frequently twist about with 

 extreme quickness, and dexterously manage with their projecting lower 

 mandible to plough up small fish, which are secured by the upper and 

 shorter half of their scissor-like bills. This fact I repeatedly saw, as, 

 like swallows, they continued to fly backwards and forwards close 

 before me. Occasionally when leaving the surface of the water their 

 flight was wild, irregular, and rapid ; they then uttered loud harsh cries. 

 When these birds are fishing, the advantage of the long primary feathers 

 of their wings, in keeping them dry, is very evident. When thus 

 employed, their forms resemble the symbol by which many artists 



represent marine birds. Their tails are much used in steering their 

 irregular course. 



These birds are common far inland along the course of the Rio 

 Parana ; it is said that they remain here during the whole year, and 

 breed in the marshes. During the day they rest in flocks on the grassy 

 plains, at some distance from the water. Being at anchor, as I have 

 said, in one of the deep creeks between the islands of the Parana, as the 

 evening drew to a close, one of these scissor-beaks suddenly appeared. 

 The water was quite still, and many little fish were rising. The bird 

 continued for a long time to skim the surface, flying in its wild and irre- 

 gular manner up and down the narrow canal, now dark with the growing 

 night and the shadows of the overhanging trees. At Monte Video I 

 observed that some large flocks during the day remained on the mud- 

 banks at the head of the harbour, in the same manner as on the grassy 

 plains near the Parana ; and every evening they took flight seaward. 

 From these facts I suspect that the Rhynchops generally fishes by night, 

 at which time many of the lower animals come most abundantly to the 

 surface. M. Lesson states that he has seen these birds opening the 

 shells of the mactrae buried in the sand-banks on the coast of Chile ; 

 from their weak bills, with the lower mandible so much projecting. 



