162 



RIO PARANA. 



Oct. 1833. 



like swallows, they continued to fly backwards and forwards, 

 close before me. Occasionally when leaving the surface of 

 the water their flight was wild, irregular, and rapid; they 

 then also uttered loud harsh cries- When these birds are 

 fishing, the length of the primary feathers of the wings is 

 seen to be quite necessary, in order to keep the latter dry. 

 When thus employed, their forms resemble the symbol by 

 which many artists represent marine birds. The tail is much 

 used in steering their irregular course. 



These birds are common far inland along the course of the Rio 

 Parana ; it is said they remain during the whole year, and breed 

 in the marshes. During the day they rest in flocks on the grassy 

 plains, at some distance from the water. Being at anchor, as 

 I have said, in one of the deep creeks between the islands of 

 the Parana, as the evening drew to a close, one of these 

 scissor-beaks suddenly appeared. The water was quite still, 

 and many little fish were rising. The bird continued for a 

 long time to skim the surface, flying in its wild and irregular 

 manner up and down the narrow canal, now dark with the 

 growing night and the shadows of the overhanging trees. At 

 Monte Video I observed that some large flocks during the 

 day remained on the mud-banks at the head of the harbour, 

 in the same manner as on the grassy plains near the Parana ; 

 and every evening they took flight direct to seaward. From 

 these facts, I suspect that the Rhyncops generally fishes by 

 night, at which time many of the lower animals come most 

 abundantly to the surface. M. Lesson states that he has 

 seen these birds opening the shells of the mactree, buried in 

 the sand-banks on the coast of Chile : from their weak bills, 

 with the lower mandible so much produced, their short legs 

 and long wings, it is very improbable that this can be a 

 general habit. 



In our course down the Parana, I only observed three 

 other birds, whose habits are worth mentioning. One is a 

 small kingfisher {Alcedo Americana) ; it has a longer tail than 

 the European species, and hence does not sit in so stiff and 

 upright a position. Its flight also, instead of being direct 



