of the Falkland Islands. 155 



17. HoPLOPTERUS CAYANUS (Lath.). Philomachus cayanus, 

 Darwin, Zool. Voy. Beagle, iii. p. 127. 



I obtained a single specimen of this Plover in 1860, and sent 

 it to England. It was shot near Stanley; and another was seen 

 a short time afterwards. 



18. EuDROMiAS URViLLii (Gam.). (Dotterel.) 



It may safely be said that this is a migratory bird in East 

 Falkland. The Dotterels first appear in the beginning of Sep- 

 tember, when the dry peat-banks in all parts of the island are 

 covered with them. Their breast-plumage is then of a beautiful 

 red. They lay the first week in October (as appears from my 

 note-book), placing their eggs, which are two in number, on the 

 dry moss, without making any nest. The eggs are so nearly 

 the colour of the surrounding ground that one almost treads on 

 them before seeing them. I have sometimes, however, found 

 their eggs placed under the shelter of a bush. After the breed- 

 ing season the bright colour on the breast of these birds fades 

 away. In the month of February they commence to gather in 

 flocks along the coast, and by the end of April disappear en- 

 tirely, and do not return until the end of August or beginning 

 of September of the following year. I have observed that these 

 birds always leave their eggs when any one approaches and 

 walk away, calling all the time. Of an afternoon, however, I 

 have disturbed them ofi" their nests : they appear then to sit 

 more closely. 



19. ^GiALiTES FALKLANDicus (Lath.). (Double-ringed 

 Plover.) 



This Plover is a spring visitor, arriving about the beginning 

 of September, and breeding shortly afterwards, although I have 

 also found a nest with fresh eggs in it in October. The eggs, 

 three in number, are generally laid on a bank at a short distance 

 from the beach, without any nest, being merely deposited iu a 

 hole. 



20. HiEMATOPus ATER, Vicill. (Black Oyster-catcher.) 

 The Black Oyster-catcher remains in East Falkland the whole 



year round, laying its eggs (two in number) in the beginning 

 of Novembei', just one month later than our other Oyster- 



M 2 



