iSS-j-l Barrows oh Hi /(/a aj Ihc Loivcr l/nig/ury. 2^ J 



It seems to be equally abundant summer and winter, and was 

 usually found in pairs, which vanished into the depths of some 

 bushy morass on the instant of discovery, and could not again be 

 started. When siu-prised several rods from cover I have seen 

 them flv well after running half the distance to the cover, but 

 usually they tiHist entirely to their legs — and indeed they rarely 

 wander fxr enough from the swamps to make their wings of much 

 use to them. Of their breeding habits I learned nothing. 



17S. Gallinula galeata i^LicJit.). Gallina del Agua 

 (Water Hen.). — iVbundant at Concepcion, where it is resi- 

 dent and breeds. On Sept. 39, 18S0, I saw young following 

 their mother, and two weeks later shot a female just ready to la^^ 

 Early in March they were moidting and unable to fly. 



This species was abundant at the southernmost points visited, 

 even in cold weather. 



179. Fulica armillata Vleill. Gallina del Agua (Wa- 

 ter Hen) . — Not uncommon at Concepcion during cold weather ; 

 much more abundant, however, further south. 



180. Fulica leucoptera VieiU. — With the preceding species 

 at Puan and Carhu6 in March and April, but not at Concepcion. 



iSi. Aramus scolopaceus {Gm.). Gallineta grande 

 (Big Rail). — An abundant resident in the neighborhood of 

 Concepcion in all the marshes and on most of the small water- 

 courses wherever impeded with rushes. They seem to feed 

 almost exclusively on the large, fresh-water snail (^Amp7illai-ia)^ 

 and the bills of mau}^ examined showed a perceptible lateral 

 curve at the end, which I suppose is due to the constant wedging 

 of the bill in the apertures of these shells. 



The birds are by no means wary, but once started they are 

 likely to fly half a mile or more before settling, unless there is 

 good cover close at hand. 



182. Parra jacana Li?in. Gallineta (Rail). — Hardly to 

 be called abundant at Concepcion, yet certainly not rare, one or 

 more pairs breeding in almost every marsh where there was 

 some clear water and floating vegetation. I never tired of 

 watching them as they ran about apparently on the very surface 

 of the water, clucking to each other and displaying the pea-green 

 wings, cinnamon body, and 3'ellow frontal shield at every short 

 flight. I foinid no nests, but saw two young just able to fly on 

 March 5. though I presuane these may have been from a second 

 nest. 



