416 Walter Goodfellow—Some Reminiscences of a Collector


where we had another breed outwardly the same but as fierce as these

were tame.


The Rio Paraguay is a paradise for the ornithologist and, to those

who during our winters go in search of nature study, no better trip

could be recommended. From Buenos Aires to Asuncion the journey

can be made in really luxurious steamers with no discomforts whatever,

but at the latter place a change has to be made for the upper part

of the river to steamers less comfortable, but still quite good, but it

is from here the journey is even more interesting as birds of a more

tropical nature are encountered daily and all day. It was a sight to

see the Ducks alone, returning in their thousands as evening came on,

also flocks of Parrots, Parrakeets, and Macaws ; while many Herons,

Roseate Spoonbills, and other waders were seldom out of sight along

the banks. Those who have never seen these Spoonbills in a mid

state have not the slightest idea how beautiful a flock of these birds

can be in the brilliant sunlight, perhaps standing among, or even on

the backs of, alligators. Their rose and carmine plumage, which fades

in captivity, is one of the loveliest sights I know, so intense in colour.

In many parts trees line the banks and among these may be recognized

many Toucans, Nanday Conures, and a great variety of other birds,

while nearer the water Jacamerops (probably aurea) was sometimes

seen to dart out and catch insects on the wing. Darters called here

by their Brazilian name anhingas (pronounced anyingas) are everywhere

on the water and on all logs drying their outstretched wings. These

birds look particularly snakelike, especially when swimming with the

body under the water, and only the long neck above. Often across the

pampa flocks of Rheas were observed, so near sometimes that several

were shot from the deck of the steamer. On these occasions a boat

was lowered and sailors went on shore to recover the bodies. The

liver appeared to be considered a delicacy, and was more than once

served at the saloon table, but I did not sample it so cannot say what

it is like. The sailors ate the rest of the body and plucked out all the

feathers for making the dusting brushes which are such a feature of

all homes in the southern part of the continent.


Of animals we saw many deer drinking at the water’s edge, and

capybaras, called here carpinchos , a few tapirs, and a fox or two.



