13 Mr. E. Gibson on the OrnitJuAogy of [Ibis^ 



horsemen would diverge every now and tlien to enable our 

 crews to lean over and scoop out the eggs from the many 

 nests of water-fowl ; and altogether the voyage had more 

 the aspect of a picturesque picnic in the brilliant early 

 morning, than a matter-of-fact business undertaking. In- 

 deed, I myself mentally dismissed the latter part, whilst I 

 contemplated the wonderful scene of bird-life extending as 

 far as one could see on the water and in the air. It was on 

 hearing one of the men exclaim 'There goes a Swan from 

 its nest/ that I looked in tlie direction indicated and saw 

 first one bird, then a second and then a third — for there 

 were no less than three nests — rise and walk slowly away 

 until they took to the water, their snowy plumage con- 

 trasting admirably with the rich green of the grass and the 

 deep blue of the sky- reflecting water. Accordingly, after 

 seeing all the men and impedimenta disembarked at our 

 destination, and the work oi'ganised, I left the manager to 

 his arduous and monotonous task; and annexing a canoe 

 and the services of the trusty Pedro Almeira (best of Gauchos 

 and now converted into a gondolier), poled back to inspect 

 matters on this interesting island. The first nest was 

 situated amidst grass of about six inches growth; built of 

 diy junco, and having the rather cup-shaped cavity lined with 

 down and a little dry grass ; the height was about six inches, 

 diameter at base some two feet, and of the cavity or 

 hollow ten inches. It contained seven much-incubated eggs. 

 The middle nest, forty yards from the preceding, was in a 

 stronger clump of green grass a foot high, which hid it 

 from view until I was almost on it. Consisted only of a 

 flattened hollow in the said grass, forming a shallow cup 

 about twenty inches in diameter, lined with down and di'y 

 grass. It was beaten down on one side, where — on the grass 

 outside of nest — were huddled up four young, newly out of 

 the shell. These, of a delicate pale grey colour and ex- 

 ceedingly dainty in appearance, took no notice of me, but 

 continued to play with each other, or aflfected to nibble at 

 the grass when I touched or stroked them, and were mute. 

 Third nest ten yards from last, but in open space and with 



