RUFOUS CACHALOTE 231 



summers. More often, however, a new nest is built 

 directly above the old one, which serves as a founda- 

 tion, and occasionally as many as three nests are 

 seen thus on the same branch-tip, two of them at 

 least being occupied. When other branches of the 

 same tree are similarly loaded, and other trees close 

 at hand also bear the same kind of fruit, the result 

 is very picturesque. The eggs, which are white, are 

 laid from ist October to ist January, but many of 

 the birds work at nest-building all the winter, some- 

 times spending months on a single nest." 



RUFOUS CACHALOTE 



Homorus lophotes 



Above bright brown, with olive tinge on the back ; crest feathers 

 dark brown ; quills blackish ; tail bright chestnut ; beneath duller 

 brown, throat rufous ; bill bright blue, eye white ; length 9.8 inches. 



THIS interesting species inhabits the north and 

 north-western parts of the Argentine territory; in 

 the province of Buenos Ayres its presence is confined 

 to the narrow strip of subtropical wood fringing the 

 low shores of the Plata river. 



When surprised, its white eye, blue dagger-like 

 beak, and raised crest give it a strikingly bold and 

 angry appearance, the effect of which is heightened 

 by the harsh, rasping, jay-like scream it utters when 

 disturbed. This resentful look is deceptive, however, 

 for the bird is the shyest creature imaginable. Its 



