of the Argentine Republic. 19 



it suddenly turns sharp round and drops into some mound or 

 thistle-stalk, as if it had seen some prey, but I do not think 

 it has ; the action looks just like a stoop without an object. 



32. Falco peregrinus. (Arg. Orn. ii. p. Q7.) 



Feb. 20th. No. 100. Peregrine Falcon. ^ . Rare. 



Legs orange ; nails black ; beak horn-colour, base yellow ; 

 nostrils orange ; eye black ; cere orange ; crop contained 

 young bird. 



Usually found in the same spot for days together either in 

 trees or perched on a particular skull in camp, from whence 

 it preys upon small birds. Here I have only observed one 

 pair; the male I procured, but it had not finished its moult. 



34. Heteronetta melanocephala. (Arg. Orn. ii. p. 130.) 



April 14th. No. 113. Black-headed Duck. ^ . Very rare. 



Legs brown ; eyes black ; beak bluish. 



This is the only specimen of this Duck that I have yet 

 observed here. It was found along with a flock of Teal in a 

 reedy lagoon. 



38. EuDROMiAs modesta. (Arg. Orn. ii. p. 171.) 



April 30th. No. 119. Winter Plover. ^. Fairly common. 



Legs greenish ; eye hazel ; beak brown. 



This specimen frequented the muddy edges of an arroyo, 

 although flocks of the same species are usually found on 

 the high camp. 



39. -^GiALiTis FALKLANDiCA. (Arg. Orn. ii. p. 172.) 

 April 4th. No. 103. Patagonian Sandplover. ? . Fairly 



common. 



Legs brown; eye black; beak black. 



Arrives along with the Sandpipers, but has not yet departed 

 (July 2nd). Frequents the mud on the edges of the arroyos 

 or lagoons. It seems a solitary bird, although the first I 

 procured was in company with a flock of Bonaparte's Sand- 

 pipers. 



40. Thinocorus rumicivorus. (Arg. Orn. ii. p. 176.) 

 April 27th. No. 118. Common Seed Snipe. ^. Fairly 



common. 



c2 



