2 Mr. E. Gibson on the Ornithology of [lids, 



I am still ignorant of the nesting-habits of the species. The 

 Palenque laguna might serve the purpose of breeding, but I 

 would surely have heard of the event if such had been the case. 

 The " Saladas^^ — some large brackish lagunas fifteen leagues 

 to the south — wouldj I imagine, be a suitable localit}' ; and 

 I have been actuall}' told that it nests at the Chascomus 

 laguna, a considerable distance to the south of Buenos 

 Ayres, but I cannot vouch for the truth of the rumour. 



More than once I have partaken of roast Flamingo. A 

 fat bird is as excellent eating as a good domestic goose, and 

 is even richer in flavour. One peculiarity it presents when 

 cooked is the extraordinary colour of the flesh — a bright 

 orange-red ; and this, for some curious reason, caused me a 

 decided repugnance at the time. I say " curious " advisedly, 

 for, from necessity or choice, I have repeatedly partaken of 

 such unusual viands as horse-flesh (not the broken-down hack 

 be it said, but the unhandled mare or colt), Rhea or South 

 American Ostrich, Patagonian Hare, Biscacho, Nutria, and 

 various Armadillos, to say nothing of such small deer as 

 frogs and snails, all without any of the shrinking which the 

 gaudily-hued Flamingo dish produced. It smelt good, and 

 tasted better ; but it looked as if red-hot from the DeviFs 

 kitchen ! 



334. Chauna chavaria Linn. Crested Screamer. 



Adult. Iris dark brown ; orbits and cere dull magenta ; 

 bill slate-colour ; legs and feet bright magenta. 



The " Chaja " (phonetically '' Chaha ") has been so fully 

 described by Hudson and myself (' Argentine Ornithology,' 

 and 'The Ibis,' 1880, p. 165) that there only remains to cull 

 certain excerpts from the voluminous entries in my diary, or 

 amplify former observations. 



This " majestic bird," to quote Hudson's designation, is 

 not only my familiar friend of the wild and wide Pampas, 

 but has recalled itself to my attention in the most unexpected 

 situations. One bright spring morning I was lounging with 

 a friend in the grounds of the Agricultural Show at Buenos 

 Ayres, awaiting the resumption b}' the judges of their task. 



