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Sydney Porter—Notes from South America



are called, are to-day as common in the West End of London Millinery

shops as before the prohibition. In fact “ Ospreys ” are now used for

dress trimmings and one sees in the windows of some of the exclusive

dress-making establishments evening dresses with the whole corsage

made of Egret feathers. Quite a lot of these feathers are smuggled in

the false bottoms of egg crates from China.


The filamentous plumes grow on the head, breast, and back of the

bird and when it is displaying or fighting the bird seems enveloped in

a filmy haze of these plumes. The Great White Egret only possesses

the elongated plumes on the back. These are not erectile as in the smaller

bird but the feathers form a graceful train which covers the back and

projects some length beyond the tail. There were other species of

Herons in the Gardens but, with the exception of several magnificent

Cocoi Herons, they were not at liberty like the Egrets. The Cocoi

Heron which is found throughout the whole of South America is one

of the finest Herons in existence and old adult birds seem to be a mass

of beautiful elongated pale grey plumes. The birds both in shape and

movements are always the acme of stately dignity.


There were specimens of the beautiful Whistling Heron ( Ardei

sibilatrix) a local bird, clad in raiment of the softest pastel greys,

primrose yellow, chestnut, black and white. I noticed also a specimen

of the Pileated Heron [Philherodias jpileatus), another of the lovely

South American Herons, its beauty being enhanced by a large patch

of brilliant verdigris-blue skin on the face, which contrasted vividly

with the snow-white plumage and black cap. There were many other

local species, such as Butoridus striata, B. cyanurus, A. involucris,

N. obscurus, Ixobrychus involucries, Syrigma sibilatrix, and a magnificent

pair of Tiger Bitterns ( Tigrisoma marmortum). All these birds looked

in perfect condition, which I suppose was mainly due to the fine climate

of Buenos Aires, for all the birds were fed solely on raw meat and some

were confined in not too large aviaries.


There was a large flock of Koseate Spoonbills {Ajaja rosea), perhaps

the most beautiful of all the waders. These birds were at complete

liberty and were not pinioned ; they lived around one of the lakes

where they could be seen wading up to the thighs and “ spooning ”

the water with a systematic left and right swinging movement as they



