284 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS : ZOOLOGY 



front of its nest, and flapping its wings violently to make the bands part 

 and pass on either side. The clutch consists of three eggs ; and a re- 

 markable circumstance in connection with them is, that when they become 

 heavy with young all their points are directed inwards to a common 

 centre. 



"The eggs, of a very elongated pear-shaped form, have a ground of a 

 warm stone-colour, sprinkled over with jet-black spots, which cluster most 

 thickly round the blunt end. 



" Meas. : axis 50 mill., diam. 36 mill. 



"The eggs form a favourite dish with the natives, and are very deli- 

 cate." (E. W. White, P. Z. S., pp. 627-628, 1882.) 



"A stranger performance is that of the spur-winged lapwing of the same 

 region — a species resembling the lapwing of Europe, but a third larger, 

 brighter coloured, and armed with spurs. The lapwing display, called by 

 the natives its "dance" or "serious dance" — by which they mean square 

 dance" — requires three birds for its performance, and is, so far as I know, 

 unique in this respect. The birds are so fond of it that they indulge in it 

 all the year round, and at frequent intervals during the day, also on moon- 

 light nights. If a person watches any two birds for some time — for they 

 live in pairs — he will see another lapwing, one of a neighbouring couple, 

 rise up and fly to them, leaving his own mate to guard their chosen 

 ground ; and instead of resenting this visit as an unwarranted intrusion 

 on their domain, as they would certainly resent the approach of almost any 

 other bird, they welcome it with notes and signs of pleasure. Advancing 

 to the visitor, they place themselves behind it ; then all three, keeping 

 step, begin a rapid march, uttering resonant drumming notes in time with 

 their movements; the notes of the pair behind being emitted in a stream, 

 like a drum-roll, while the leader utters loud single notes at regular in- 

 tervals. The march ceases ; the leader elevates his wings and stands 

 erect and motionless, still uttering loud notes ; while the other two, with 

 puffed-out plumage and standing exactly abreast, stoop forward and down- 

 ward until the tips of their beaks touch the ground, and, sinking their 

 rhythmical voices to a murmur, remain for some time in this posture. 

 The performance is then over and the visitor goes back to his own 

 ground and mate, to receive a visitor himself later on." (Huds. Natur. 

 La Plata, 1892, pp. 269-270.) 



"Resident and common; abundant on some camps. They mob the 



