BRAZILIAN CORMORANT 91 



probably likewise occur in the southern provinces 

 of the Republic. 1 



Azara tells us that this Cormorant is not un- 

 common 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 natur- 

 alists 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 Vigua ; and it is also very common in the Pata- 

 gonian 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 rises reluctantly and with great 

 labour, and has a straight rapid flight, the wings 

 beating incessantly. By day it is a silent bird, but 

 when many individuals congregate to roost on the 

 branches of a dead tree overhanging the river, 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. 



1 Namely, P. imperialis and P. albiventris. See Zoo/. Chall. (Birds), 

 p. i2i. It was probably one of these two species that Durnford found 

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



