88 Froceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



Clutch of three eggs, taken 14th November 1881, from a 

 nest in a small wood half a mile from Tala. Also other two 

 clutches of three eggs each, taken on 8th December 1881, 

 from nests in the same wood. These are perhaps the most 

 beautiful of any of the eggs of South American birds, and 

 their appearance is very peculiar. The ground colour is a 

 pale blue, resembling the colour of the egg of the heron, and 

 over this is a remarkable encrustation of a white calcareous 

 substance, finely reticulated, and giving the egg the appear- 

 ance of being covered with lace in relief. It is figured in 

 Thienemann's " Fortflanzungsgesichte," ^ PL xv., fig. 11. They 

 average in size 1|-J x 1^6_ i^ch, the largest measuring If -J x l^'^^- 

 inch, the smallest 1^% x 1-i- inch. They are of an elongated 

 spherical form, and are three or four in number. 



The nest is usually a large structure of sticks, generally 

 built about 20 feet from the ground. Of the above, however, 

 one of the last mentioned was placed so low as to be within 

 reach from the ground. They were all three in Tala trees, and 

 were lined with wool wrought into the interstices of the sticks. 

 Gibson mentions finding a nest lined with green alder leaves. 

 No specimen has been sent me, owing to their great bulk. 



39. Coktmla picazuro, Temm. — This bird, which is about 

 the size of our rock pigeon, is pretty common at Tala, where 

 it is resident. It occurs also in Brazil, Southern Paraguay, 

 and the Argentine Eepublic. At Tala they are wild, go in 

 flocks, and are swift on the wing. Their food consists of 

 seeds and tender young grasses, as lucerne. Gibson also 

 mentions their visiting the killing-places to feed. At night 

 they roost on the top of lofty trees. Their voice is pleasing. 



Clutch of two eggs, taken 28th October 1880, from a nest 

 placed in a tree. These are white, and resemble those of the 

 woodpigeon. They differ considerably in size, one measur- 

 ing IfJ X 1 inch, the other l^J x 1^\ inch. Others I have 

 from Buenos Ay res vary quite as much in dimensions. 



The nest is usually placed, about 15 feet from the ground, 

 in a tree, and consists of a shallow platform of twigs, much 

 resembling the nest of the woodpigeon. The eggs are visible 

 through the nest. 



1 Leipzig, 1845-57. 



