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Sydney Porter—Notes from South America



were examples of the White-faced Ibis which is the South American

representative of the well-known Glossy Ibis. I occasionally saw these

birds in the marshy spots on the pampas. The flight is very peculiar,

especially when they rise with slow wing-beats and long, dangling legs,

and the extended neck and beak which hang down as though the bird

was held by the wings. An Ibis in flight can never be mistaken for any

other bird. The Whispering Ibis, which is a rare bird in the Argentine,

was also represented. Hudson speaking of this bird says, “ It seems

quite silent unless one comes near to it and listens very intently, when

he will be able to hear little sigh-like puffs as the bird flies away. It

seems strange that this member of a loquacious, loud-voiced family

should be reduced to speak in whispers ! ” There were specimens of

the beautiful Scarlet Ibis but they were in pale plumage. I was informed

by Dr. Orfila that during the breeding season the birds resumed their

scarlet finery. This Ibis is probably one of the most brilliant birds in

existence, being a uniform intense geranium red, the legs and beak

included. It is impossible to retain the red in the birds in captivity in

England. After the first moult they fade to a dirty pink. It was a great

disappointment not being able to get hold of any of these birds in South

America.


Of Waders, there were some American Oyster-catchers and also

several Black Oyster-catchers, a rare bird found in the southern

extremity of South America. It is larger than the common kind and of a

more or less uniform blackish brown.


Of Cranes, there were several varieties including Stanley, Crowned,

and Sarus, and unfortunately these were confined to very small

aviaries.


In numerous aviaries was a large collection of the smaller Argentine

birds such as the various Troupials in which the Argentine is particularly

rich, the most noticeable being the lovely Scarlet-headed Marsh Birds,

intense black in colour, with the head, neck, and upper breast, also the

thighs, brilliant scarlet. This is one of the most beautiful of the

Argentine birds and I saw several of them in the bird shop in the

Sarmiento, but as I already had quite a few birds I resisted temptation.

There were also various Cow-birds, Mocking Birds, etc. The Mocking

Bird from the Argentine is much larger and finer than the one from



