Mr DaUjkish on Birds and Eygsfrom Pararjuay. 85 



20. Ardect sihilatrix, Temm. Whistling Heron. Local 

 name " Curabiniinbe " {Flauta del sol. Azara). — This hand- 

 some small heron is mostly confined to Brazil, Northern 

 Argentina, and Paraguay, hut has of late been found at 

 Angostura, in Venezuela, and at Concepcion, on the Uruguay 

 Eiver, which has extended its known range considerably. 

 In the latter locality, Barrow found it by no means common, 

 but where he describes its habits as shy and solitary, active 

 by day if disturbed, and as having a more rapid flight than 

 any other heron of his acquaintance, flying away from the 

 streams to dry woods and sandhills when thus alarmed. 



Two eggs, taken on 4th November 1887, measure 1|^ by 

 1|^ and l|f by lf% inches respectively. They are round 

 in form, and of a light, brownish-green colour, speckled over 

 with a few minute spots of reddish-purple, thus differing a 

 good deal from the usual type of heron's egg. 



The nest was formed of sticks, and contained no lining ; 

 it was situated at the top of a large tree. 



21. Chauna chavaria (Linn.). Crested Screamer. Local 

 name " Chaha " {Chaja. Azara). — The Chaha, so named 

 from its noisy call, is a large, fine, and somewhat striking 

 bird, especially if seen in a flock. It is found throughout 

 Southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. It frequents 

 swampy ground, and can swim, but is usually seen wading 

 when in the water. It is of powerful flight although so 

 heavy a bird, and is described as soaring in spirals like an 

 eagle, at times to so great a height that its presence is only 

 detected by its cry. It possesses a large number of air cells 

 between the skin and the lining membrane of the body, 

 which it can inflate at will and thus enable it to soar at 

 pleasure. It possesses, in common with some other birds, a 

 curious and powerful weapon in the form of a spur upon the 

 extremity of the wing bone, which enables it when wounded 

 to defend itself with some success, and a young one unable 

 to fly can with it beat off a dog. It is resident and very 

 common in Paraguay, and is occasionally found tame about 

 country houses, where, by its loud call on the a^^proach 

 of a stranger, it forms a good watch. Its flesh is said by 

 Barrow to be hardly inferior to that of turkey. Its breeding 



