“A Triple Alliance .”



265



it had to be taken off in a way that I am told would have killed

most birds. However, this bird survived and seemed none the

worse for the operation. Its arrival was welcomed by the other

two birds in a very striking manner. They both went up to the

stranger, placed themselves shoulder to shoulder one on each side

and the trio marched thus up and down, perhaps a dozen times,

all three birds shrieking loudly but with this difference, that the

winged bird gave out slow notes at intervals whereas the other

two birds gave out notes repeated as rapidly as possible.


They then settled down without further performance except

a good deal of chattering. This is I think, interesting in view of

what is stated (in Hudson’s “ Argentine Ornithology ”) of their

antics in their native country.


These Plovers are very fierce, excitable birds, and when I

once put an Indian Yellow-wattled Tapwing in with them 1

think they would have killed it in half-an-liour if I had not gone

to the rescue.


They seem quite hardy—at any rate in a grass run on a

well-drained sandy soil with a shelter shed. I feed them on raw

chopped meat and boiled rice in the morning, and the same or

chopped shrimps and Victoria poultry food in the afternoon. If

allowed to do so, they would eat nothing but raw meat, but this

would not, I think, suit their health for long. They are very

vociferous at all times when anything strange comes near the run

and chatter loudly on moonlight nights. It is interesting to note

that Lapwings flying over are always greeted with loud cries and

clearly at once distinguished (even when flying at a great height)

from other birds.


On the nth March last, I noticed two of the Plover very

busy lining a small hole in the ground with bits of dried grass in

a way that suggested nesting operations. I also noticed them

rushing with outstretched wings and loud cries of auger to

attack a Martinique Rail with whom they had previously lived on

fairly friendly terms.


Between the nth and the 24th March the two birds were

intensely active with the nest, deepening the hole with their beaks,

pulling out all the grass, rearranging it, then pulling it all to

pieces and again deepening the hole, and so on. They evidently



