Bulletin - United States National Museum - si-pddr - Smithsonian ...

54 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
on July 30, and on August 16 at the Riacho Pilaga, Formosa, one
was shot as it circled past a large lagoon. At Puerto Pinasco the
species was common and passed constantly along the river. Inland
in the Chaco it Avas less numerous but was noted occasionally in
lagoons. At Kilometer 80 one was seen September 15, and at Kilometer
110 one was noted on September 24.
In the Province of Buenos Aires cormorants were seen in small
numbers near Dolores on October 21 and 22, while near Lavalle
they were common from October 23 to November 15, both in channels
that traversed the marshes wherever there was sufficient water and
along the tidal reaches of the Rio Ajo. A male was taken here on
October 8. At General Roca, Rio Negro, single birds were observed
occasionally from November 24 to December 3. Near Montevideo,
Uruguay, on January 9 and 16, 1921, cormorants were common along
the beaches as far as Carrasco and w'ere observed fishing in salt
water, flying along parallel to the coast or resting in flocks in close
formation on sandy beaches. One was observed at La Paloma,
Rocha, on January 23, Near San Vicente, Rocha, the species was
fairly common on January 31 at the Laguna Castillos. On February
2 one was noted inland at the Paso Alamo on the small Arroyo
Sarandi. Near Guamini, Buenos Aires, they were recorded from
March 3 to 8 in flocks that contained as many as 300 adults and
young. The species seemed to be distributed universally wherever
deep water or quiet lagoons offered suitable feeding grounds, though
most common near large streams. On the Paraguay River it increased
in abundance to the northward.
The two specimens that I secured were both immature individuals.
Family ANHINGIDAE
ANHINGA ANHINGA (Linnaeus)
Plotus anhinga Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 218. (Brazil.)
A snakebird was observed along the Riacho Quia near Las Palmas,
Chaco, on July 30 and 31, 1920.
Family ARDEIDAE
NYCTICORAX NYCTICORAX NAEVIUS (Boddaert)
Ardca naevia Boddaert, Tabl. Planch. Enl., 1783, p. 56. (Cayenne.)
The only specimen taken is a female, secured October 31, 1920.
near Lavalle, Buenos Aires, in very worn plumage that seems to
be that of the second year. The bird is a peculiar shade of grayish
brown above with slightly indicated streaks of whitish on the crow^n,
neck, and lesser wing coverts. Below it is whitish with the sides of
tlie head, neck, and breast streaked with grayish brown. The abdo-