the Province of Buenos Ayres. 197 



in the mean time appearing perfectly indifferent. Sometimes 

 two or three males are seen before a single female, and never 

 separate without a fight. I have never seen them use their 

 wing-spurs in their encounters, though they strike at each 

 other with their beaks, and sometimes continue fighting in 

 the air. To the sportsman this bird is a constant nuisance, 

 invariably uttering its cries at a critical moment when he is 

 creeping up to Ducks or game. Common at Baradero in April. 



122. Charadrius virginicus, Borkh. ; ScL et Salv. No- 

 mencl. p. 142. 



Pretty common in February and March ; but I have not 

 observed them at any other season. About a dozen, shot on 

 the 5th of the latter month, were in full moult. They are fond 

 of high and pretty dry ground ; but yet I do not think they 

 wander far from water. Iris wood- brown ; beak, legs, and 

 feet black. 



I think I observed Oreophilus ruficollis here on the 21st 

 April of this year ; but I could not satisfactorily identify it. 



123. EuDROMiAS MODESTA (Licht.) ; ScL et Salv. P. Z. S. 

 1868, p. 144. 



Autumn and winter visitor; found in large flocks. 



124. Thinocorus rumicivorus, Eschsch. ; Scl. et Salv. 

 P. Z. S. 1868, p. 143. 



A winter visitor, sometimes found in large flocks. In 

 their habits they resemble the Rails and Sandpipers. Like 

 the former they sometimes squat closely to the ground till 

 almost trodden upon, and when put up run some distance 

 before taking wing. They frequent very arid dry places, and 

 also damp marshy ground. In the air their long, pointed 

 wings, and rapid erratic flight, added to their low whistling- 

 note, always suggests an affinity to the Tringse. In size and 

 weight I have found these birds to differ exceedingly ; and 

 this is not dependent on sex. The black lines which extend 

 from the corners of the lower mandible, enclosing the white 

 of the throat, and join the black band across the lower part 

 of the chest, are more clearly defined in the male than in the 

 female ; and the latter has the throat dusky white. The young 



8ER. IV. VOL, I. p 



