THE LIFE OF THE ABARY SAVANNAS. 371 



struggle for existence, and the least increase of any foe or 

 obstacle would result in its extinction. 



At the time of our arrival the Hoatzins had just begun to 

 nest. They were utilizing old nests which, although so 

 apparently flimsy in construction, yet were remarkably cohe- 

 sive. The nests are almost indistinguishable from those of 

 the "Chows" or Guiana Green Herons which were built in 

 the same situations. The latter were usually low over the 

 water, while the Hoatzins' were higher, from five to twelve 

 feet above the surface of the marsh. The twigs were longer 

 and more tightly interlaced in the Hoatzin's nest, and while 

 the nests of the Heron crumbled when lifted from the crotch, 

 the others remained intact. The Hoatzins placed their 

 nests in crotches of the tree-like growths, or more rarely 

 supported by several branched mucka-mucka stems. Both 

 sexes aided in the building as we observed two birds collect- 

 ing and weaving the twigs. Three sets of eggs which came 

 under our observation numbered respectively 2, 3, and 4. 

 From what information I could gather, two seems to be the 

 usual number. 



The eggs are rather variable in shape. One which I 

 have, from the Orinoco, is elliptical, while my Abary speci- 

 mens are oval. The ground color is creamy white. The en- 

 tire surface is marked with small irregularly shaped dots and 

 spots of reddish brown, inclining to be more abundant at 

 the large end. The brown pigment deposited early in the 

 oviduct is covered by a thin layer of lime and thereby given 

 a lavender hue. The size averages 1.8 by 1.3 inches. 



Hoatzins seem to be very free from enemies, although 

 from year to year their numbers remain about the same. 

 The waters beneath them are inhabited by numbers of otters, 

 crocodiles, anacondas and voracious fish, so that death lies 

 that way. Thev seem also to fear some predatory bird, for 

 whenever a harmless Caracara Hawk 53 skimmed low over 



