102 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



Those of the first-mentioned species were slight 

 platforms, placed on the tops of broken rushes, at 

 a height of from two to three feet above the water, 

 and barely a yard apart. 



' The nests of A. candidissima were built up from 

 the water to the height of a foot or a foot and a half, 

 with a hollow on the top for the eggs ; they were 

 very compactly put together, of small dry twigs of a 

 water-plant* A good many were distributed amongst 

 those of A. egretta ; but the majority were close 

 together, at one side of the colony, where the reeds 

 were taller and less broken. 



' The nests of N. obscurus much resembled the 

 latter in construction and material ; but very few 

 were interspersed amongst those of the other species, 

 being retired to the side opposite A. candidissima, 

 on the borders of some channels of clear water ; 

 there they were placed amongst the high reeds, and 

 a few yards apart from each other. 



' The larger Egrets remained standing on their 

 nests till I was within twenty yards of them, and 

 alighted again when I had passed. In this position 

 they looked much larger than when flying. The 

 smaller Egrets first flew up on to the reeds, and then 

 immediately took to flight, not returning ; while j/V. 

 obscurus rose and sailed away, uttering a deep squawk, 

 squawk, long before one came near the nest. 



" At one side of the colony a nest of Ciconia 

 maguari, with two full-grown young, seemed like the 

 reigning house of the place. 



" It certainly was one of the finest ornithological 



