AVES CHARADRIID^ 283 



these birds, which appear to hate mankind and, I am sure deserve to be 

 hated, for their never-ceasing, unvaried, harsh screams. The stillness of 

 the night is often disturbed by them. To the sportsman they are most 

 annoying, by announcing to every other bird and animal his approach ; 

 to the traveller in the country, they may possibly, as Molina says, do good, 

 by warning him of the midnight robber. During the breeding season, 

 they attempt, like our peewits by feigning to be wounded, to draw away 

 from their nests dogs and other enemies. Their eggs are of a pointed 

 oval form ; of a brownish olive colour, thickly spotted with dark brown. 

 Their eggs, like those of the peewit, are esteemed particularly good 

 eating." (Darwin, Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. "Beagle," III, p. 

 127, 1841.) 



"A common bird throughout the plains, especially near the coast and 

 about the lagoons. Very noisy, especially at night or when molested at 

 any time. But at night it seems to delight in making a racket through 

 sheer wantonness." (J. B. Flatcher in manuscript notes.) 



722, male, Elizabeth Island. 



"Eyes pink, legs pink, bill black at tip, pink at base." 



"The characters given by Mr. Harting to separate the western form from 

 V. cayciiiieiisis are slight, but, we think, on the whole, sufficient to justify 

 the employment of his name." (Sclater & Salvin, on Birds Antarctic 

 America, Voyage H.M.S. "Challenger," No. IX, p. 357, 1878.) 



"Beckett Harbour, January 4, 1879. 



"Male: Talcahuano, Chili, September 22, 1879. Iris, pupil dark red; 

 bill lilac, with black tips; eyelids lilac; legs rose-colour, with grey feet." 

 (Sharpe, B. Z. S., 1881, p. 14.) 



"Male. Rio Lujan, Buenos Aires, Arg. Rep., March 7, 1881. 



"Female. Salto, Buenos Aires, Arg. Rep., Oct. 18, 1881. 



" Iris crimson. 



"This Flover, whose native name is 'Teru-Tero,' is very common all 

 over the camps of the province of Buenos Aires, but at the same time 

 found throughout the Republic; and in the breeding-season, which is now 

 (October) at its height, annoys the sportsman by its shrill screeching cry, 

 by circling round his head, and by shamming wounded, in order to at- 

 tract his attention. Its nest is carefully concealed in the grass, and con- 

 sists of a mere shallow hollow ; but it may be easily discovered when 

 sheep are driven over the land, as then the bird may be seen standing in 



