164 Mr. H. Durnford's Notes from the 



CHARADRIIDiE. 



Vanellus cayennensis is very abundant ; and fresh eggs are 

 to be obtained on September 10th ; on the 27th I saw young 

 on the wing, whieh must have been bred quite early in the 

 season. The nest is exaetly like that of the Peewit, but larger, 

 though the eggs are not larger than those of that bird. It 

 frequently cries at night just as our bird does. Eudromias 

 modesta is very good eating ; one was shot on Flores Island 

 out of a flock on 30th March ; I have often observed it out 

 on the campo. 



TniNOCORlDiE. 



Thinocorus rumicivorus I found common from May to Sep- 

 tember, and always in flocks. It seems equally fond of wet 

 swamps and the dry campos. When disturbed they fly round, 

 uttering a low whistle, and invariably alight head to wind. 

 They remind me of flocks of Calidris arenaria as they stand 

 motionless on the ground. 



SCOLOPACID^. 



Himantopus brasiliensis is a very common species here, both 

 in small flocks and singly ; on May 27th I shot one changing 

 to winter plumage, its head mottled with black and grey ; 

 on June 29th I found them common at Punta Lara, all in 

 winter plumage. Gallinago frenata is the only true Snipe 

 here, and is abundant in every marsh in the country ; it is 

 now (15th Oct.), I believe, breeding; but I have not yet found 

 a nest, though a marsh near contains two or three pairs. 

 Rhyncheea semicollaris in habits much resembles a Snipe, 

 flying but a short distance, and lying close until nearly trodden 

 upon; I have found two nests of this species, one on Sep- 

 tember 20th, the other on October 5th ; they were in a 

 swamp about a mile from this; each was formed of a few 

 pieces of reed in a slight depression in the ground ; one was 

 quite exposed in an open spot, the other under the shelter of 

 a tuft of grass; each contained two eggs, from which the old 

 birds of both were flushed. The eggs measure 1"5 by '9 inch, 

 and are not very sharply pointed ; they are of a dull dirty 

 white ground, which is almost hidden by numerous spots and 



