156 Mr. E. Gibson on the Ornithology of 
as that first mentioned is rather a striking sight, perhaps more 
so from the rarity of the bird here. 
41. PH@NICOPTERUS IGNIPALLIATUS, Geoffr. & d’Orb. 
Flamingo. 
Abundant in all our saltwater or brackish lagoons, and 
even occasionally to be found in freshwater swamps. The 
natives tell me it breeds here; but none of them have yet 
earned the reward I offered to be shown a nesting colony. 
One of these sites is said to be in the “ Cajiada del Malo” 
(Swamp of the Evil One), about five miles from here. I have 
seen immaturely plumaged birds, but do not remember at 
what season of the year. 
42, Puatauea asaza, Linn. Spoonbill. 
Also abundant, but is only a summer visitor. It arrives 
about the beginning of September, and leaves again in April ; 
consequently it should breed here; but, as with the last species, 
I have still to look forward to finding its eggs as the reward 
of future researches. It is generally dispersed in the dis- 
trict, frequenting swamps as well as saltwater lagoons, and 
on its first arrival appearing in flocks of from five to a hundred. 
In feeding it wades slowly along, while the bill is half im- 
mersed and waved rapidly from one side to the other. 
43. ARDEA EGRETTA, Gm. 
Abundant, particularly in the summer months—that is to 
say, if the swamps are dried up. In the winter its appear- 
ance is more irregular : in some years it is very scarce ; and in 
others none are to be seenatall. Neither it nor the succeed- 
ing species (A. candidissima) affect the brackish or salt- 
water lagoons and creeks very much, but are generally 
distributed among the swamps. Though neither species is 
gregarious, both may be occasionally seen in company, and 
they nest together in colonies. 
Breeding-Notes.—In November of 1873 I found a large 
breeding-colony of A. egretta, A. candidissima, and Nyctt- 
coraz obscurus,in the heart of a lonely swamp. The ‘‘huncos,” 
or rushes, were very high and thick, but had been broken 
down by the birds in a patch some fifty yards in diameter. 
