THE SCISSOR-BEAK. 175 



flattened laterally, that is, in a plane at right an- 

 gles to that of a spoonbill oi" duck. It is as flat 

 and elastic as an ivory paper-cutter, and the 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, gener- 

 ally 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 sur- 

 face, 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 

 naiTow wake on the mirror-like surface, [n their 

 flight they frequently twist about with extreme 

 quickness, and dexterously manage with their pro- 

 jecting 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 back- 

 wards and forwards close before me. Occasionally 

 when leaving the surface of the water their flight 

 was wild, iri'egular, and rapid : they then uttered 

 loud, hai'sh 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 marsh- 

 es. During the day they rest in flocks on the 

 grassy plains, at some distance from the water. 



