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Show 800 LETTER FROM MR. W. H. HUDSON. ( Dec. 6, sometimes of a much greater number. A body of these birds on the wing is a most interesting sight-now soaring high in the air, displaying the deep chestnut hue of their breasts, now descending with a graceful curve towards the earth, as if to exhibit the beautiful metallic green of their upper plumage. The flock is in the mean time continually changing its form or disposition, as if at the command of a leader. One moment it spreads out in a long straight line; suddenly the birds scatter in disorder, or throw themselves together like a cloud of Blackbirds; as suddenly they a°;ain re-form and proceed in the figure of a phalanx, half-moon, or triangle. The fanciful notion will scarcely fail to suggest itself to the beholder's mind, that the birds go through these unnecessary evolutions intelligently to attain greater proficiency in them by practice, or merely to make a display of their aerial accomplishments. The Ibis has another remarkable habit while flying; it is not, however, a habit exclusively confined to this species. The flock is sometimes seen as if seized with sudden frenzy or panic, every bird rushing wildly away from its fellows, and descending with a violent zigzag flight; in a few moments the mad fit leaves them, they rise again, reassemble in the air, and resume their journey. " I should like to know if any thing has been recorded concerning the nidification of this bird. Having the four quarters of the globe for an habitat, perhaps it is in no country more common than in this; yet its only breeding-place here that I have yet heard of is the Gualicho, a marshy district about 170 miles south of Buenos Ayres city. I have not visited this place in the breeding-season, but have been told by people living in its vicinity that the Ibises breed there in great numbers, and make their nests close together. The nest is made of dry grass on the ground; the eggs are blue, and three in number. Baird, in his ' Synopsis of North-American Birds,' says nothing is known of its nidification ; but this may refer to the bird only in North America. I hope from my own observation to find out something more of its breeding-habits in this country. The Lechuson (Otus brachyotus), though, like the preceding species, pretty generally distributed over the pampas, was, until within the last three years, rather a scarce bird. It breeds on the ground, makes no nest, but merely clears and presses a circular spot on the ground among the loose tussocks of long grass, and lays four white eggs of a slightly oval form. Near sunset the Lechuson is seen quitting its concealment and sitting perched upon a thistle or other eminence, or sailing above the ground with a slow Heron-like flight; at intervals while flying it strikes its wings together under its breast in a very sudden, quick manner. It is not at all shy, the intrusion of a man or dog at evening in the field it frequents appearing greatly to excite its indignation. An imitation of its cry will attract numbers of them about a person; the report of a gun has the same effect. The language of this species has considerahle variety ; when alarmed or angry they utter a loud sharp hiss, and at times a sudden shrill laugh-like cry. They have also a dismal hollow scream, not often heard, and at twilight hoot-this part of their vocal perform- |