the Province of Btietws Ayres. 199 



128. Rhynch^a semicollaris (Vieill.) ; Scl. et Salv. /. s. c. 

 Resident and found in small parties during the winter. 



Its habits much resemble those of the little Jack Snipe at 

 homCj being very reluctant to take wing^ and, having done so, 

 dropping again before long. 



129. Gambetta melanoleuca (Gm.) ; Scl. et Salv. I. s. c. 

 I think a few breed here ; but this is a bird most commonly 



seen in winter. Its note is very like that of the Greenshank 

 at home. Legs red with a tinge of orange. Common at 

 Baradero in April. 



130. Gambetta flavipes (Gm.) ; Scl. et Salv. /. s. c. 



Resident, but in the winter receiving a considerable ac- 

 cession to its numbers. Its habits are very similar to those 

 of Gambetta melanoleuca ; and it is found in much the same 

 situations as that bird — banks of streams and ditches, small 

 lagoons and pools. Legs pale orange-yellow. Common at 

 Baradero in April. 



131. A.CTITURUS bartramius (Wilson) ; Scl. et Salv. No- 

 mencl. p. 146. 



'' Batitu/'' " Chorlito." Very common from December to 

 the beginning of April. During this season large quantities 

 are shot for the markets ; and when they have been here long 

 enough to get fat on locusts and grasshoppers, which form 

 their principal food, they are excellent eating. The flocks 

 are constantly arriving and departing ; and from the fact of 

 my frequently hearing them at night passing over the place, 

 when they whistle and call to each other, I do not think the 

 same birds remain more than three or four weeks with us. 

 They frequent high dry ground, preferring that covered with 

 thistles and coarse grass, but carefully avoid low damp places. 

 Whilst at Baradero, from the 15th to the 17th April, I learnt, 

 from inquiries made there, that the Batitu had only left two 

 or three days before my visit. As I could hear of none having 

 been seen near Buenos Ayres after the 3rd April, I conclude 

 the migratory movement takes place in a west-north-westerly 

 direction from here. 



p 2 



