146 
RIO PARANA 
CHAP. 
The beak is flattened laterally, that is, in a plane at right angles 
to that of a spoonbill or duck. It is as flat and elastic as an 
ivory paper-cutter, and the lower mandible, differently from 
every other bird, is an inch and a half longer than the upper. 
In a lake near Maldonado, from which the water had been 
nearly drained, and which, in consequence, swarmed with small 
fry, I saw several of these birds, generally in small flocks, flying 
rapidly backwards and forwards close to the surface of the lake. 
They kept their bills wide open, and the lower mandible half 
buried in the water. Thus skimming the surface, they ploughed 
it in their course : the water was quite smooth, and it formed 
a most curious spectacle to behold a flock, each bird leaving its 
narrow wake on the mirror-like surface. In their flight they 
frequently twist about with extreme quickness, and dexterously 
manage with their projecting lower mandible to plough up 
small fish, which are secured by the upper and shorter half of 
their scissor-like bills. This fact I repeatedly saw, as, 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 uttered 
loud harsh cries. When these birds are fishing, the advantage 
of the long primary feathers of their wings, in keeping them 
dry, is very evident. When thus employed, their forms resemble 
the symbol by which many artists represent marine birds. 
Their tails are much used in steering their irregular course. 
These birds are common far inland along the course of the 
Rio Parana ; it is said that they remain here 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 seaward. From 
