33 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



breeding-season. Some old forest trees have seven 

 or eight of these huge structures suspended from the 

 branches, while the ground underneath is covered 

 with twigs and remains of fallen nests. The entrance 

 to the chamber is generally underneath, or if at the 

 side is protected by an overhanging eave to prevent 

 the intrusion of opossums. These entrances lead 

 into the porch or outer chamber, and the latter 

 communicates with the breeding-chamber. The 

 breeding-chambers are not connected with each 

 other, and each set is used by one pair of birds. 



The number of pairs does not exceed a dozen, 

 even with the largest nests. Repairs are carried on 

 all the year round, but new nests are only added at 

 the approach of spring. Opossums are frequently 

 found in one of the higher chambers, when the 

 entrance has been made too high, but though they 

 take up their abode there they cannot reach the 

 other chambers, and the Parrakeets refuse to go away. 

 A species of Teal (probably Querquedula brasiliensis) 

 also sometimes occupies and breeds in their cham- 

 bers, and in one case Mr. Gibson found an opossum 

 domiciled in an upper chamber, Parrakeets occupying 

 all the others except one, in which a Teal was sitting 

 on eggs. 



The breeding-season begins about ist November, 

 and as many as seven or eight eggs are laid ; these 

 are dull white, very thin-shelled, elongated, and have 

 the greatest diameter exactly equidistant from the 

 two ends. 



Mr. Barrows speaks as follows of this species in 



