THE B.3ETICAN WILDERNESS APRIL. 



77 



arroyo del Junco Keal, we had no less than twelve interesting 

 species within 200 yards : ducks of four kinds dipped and 

 splashed on the open water, viz. : — Mallards, Garganey, 

 Marbled Duck, and one pair of handsome, heavy-headed 

 " Porrones " {Erismatiyra leucocephala) . Sundry Stilts, 

 Egrets, and four Squacco Herons stalked sedately in the 

 shallows — one of the latter presently perching on a broken 



bulrush within ten yards of the boat. A group of Avocets 

 slept standing, each on one leg, on a dry point ; and further 

 away, two Spoonbills were busy sifting the soft mud with 

 curious revolving gait. Coots and Grebes (Podicipes nigri- 

 collis) kept dodging in and out among the flags and aquatic 

 plants, and a Marsh-Harrier, whose mate was sitting in an 

 adjoining cane-brake, soared in the background. This is 

 not counting the commoner kinds, nor several others which 



