60 Zoologica: N. Y. Zoological Society. [I; 2 



In Venezuela, the last of March, the birds were not nesting, 

 and those examined showed no signs of a recent breeding season. 

 In mid- April in British Guiana the Hoatzins were just beginning 

 to nest. 



The eggs are rather variable in shape. One which I have 

 from the Orinoco is elliptical, while my Abary specimens are 

 oval. The ground color is creamy white. The entire surface is 

 marked with small, irregularly shaped dots and spots of reddish 

 brown, inclining to be more abundant at the large end. The 

 brown pigment deposited early in the oviduct is covered by a 

 thin layer of lime and thereby given a lavender hue. The size 

 averages 1.8 by 1.3 inches. 



Part XI — Enemies. 



Hoatzins seem to be very free from enemies, although from 

 year to year their numbers remain about the same. The waters 

 beneath them are inhabited by otters, crocodiles, anacondas and 

 voracious fish, so that death lies that way. They seem also to 

 fear some predatory bird, for whenever a harmless hawk skims 

 over the branches on the lookout for lizards, the Hoatzins al- 

 ways tumble pell-mell into the shelter of the thick foliage below. 



Part XII — Photographing Hoatzins. 



We found that the best time to approach and photograph the 

 birds was during their siesta. As we paddle along the bank, 

 they scramble from their perches or nests up to the bare 

 branches overhead, calling hoarsely to one another. Pushing 

 aside the dense growth of Arums and vines, we work our canoe 

 as far as possible into the heart of the brush to the foot of some 

 good-sized marsh tree perhaps a foot in diameter. I step from 

 the boat to the lowest limb, Mrs. Beebe hands me the big Graflex 

 with the unwieldy but necessary 27-inch lens, and I begin lyiy 

 painful ascent. At first all is easy going, but as I ascend I 

 break off numerous dead twigs, and from the broken stub of 

 each issues a horde of black stinging ants. These hasten my 

 ascent and at last I make my way out on the swaying upper 

 branches. (Fig. 14.) From here I have a fairly clear view of 

 the surrounding brush and if I work rapidly I can secure three 

 or four pictures before the Hoatzins take flight and hide amid 

 the foliage. 



Of all my pictures, that of Fig. 11 is the prize. We came 

 upon a flock of Hoatzins late in the afternoon and were fortunate 



