158 Mr. E. Gibson on the Ornithology of 
of blue eggs exposed to the bright sunlight. If my horse had 
come down with me as I galloped home that night I should 
have presented the appearance of a gigantic cutlet enveloped 
in egg-sauce ; for I was carrying about my person two or three 
hundred eggs of Cygnus nigricollis, Ciconia maguari, Chauna 
chavaria, Ardea egretta and A. candidissima, Nycticorax ob- 
scurus, Polyborus tharus, Rostrhamus sociabilis, and Milvago 
chimango, to say nothing of Ducks’, Waterhens’, Coots’ and 
other smaller birds’ eggs, ad infinitum. 
A. egretta and A. candidissima lay four eggs each, though 
the former rarely hatches out more than three. N. obscurus 
lays and hatches out three. The eggs of all three species are 
of the same ee of light blue. The first average 27/5 x 14} ; 
the second 12%x 13%, and N. obscurus 2x Lo: “These of 
the fest mentioned two species vary greatly in size; but the 
averages of all three are taken from very large series of 
specimens. 
44, ARDEA CANDIDISSIMA, Gm. 
I have no record of this species being seen during the winter 
months of May, June, and July; but in all other respects the 
notes on A. egretta are also applicable to A. candidissima. 
Given plenty of water in the swamps, and it is generally and 
abundantly distributed all through the spring, summer, and 
autumn. For breeding-notes, see preceding species. 
45. Nycricorax osscurvs, Bp. 
Resident and abundant, sO long as there is water. One 
generally finds it perched on some rushes at the side of clear 
water, whence it rises witha deep squawk on being disturbed, 
and flies slowly and heavily away. For breeding-notes, see 
A. egretta. 
46. Arpra coco1, Linn. 
Also resident, and generally distributed, though not so 
abundant as the last species. It may be found about the 
saltwater lagoons, the marshes, and occasionally on the plains. 
As a rule, it is solitary in its habits, even a pair being rarely 
seen together, and is also very shy and difficult to get within 
gunshot-range of. The flight much resembles that of the 
