2o8 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



Mr. Barrows noted its first arrival at Conception in 

 Entrerios on gth September, 1880, " in large flocks/* 

 After the middle of October not one was seen. 



The same excellent observer saw it almost daily 

 on the pampas between Azul and Bahia Blanca, " in 

 company with the Golden Plover and Bartram's 

 Sandpiper, until late in February/' 



From the 8th to the loth of October, 1877, Durn- 

 ford saw large flocks of this Whimbrel in the Chupat 

 valley flying south, and obtained two specimens. 

 Capt. Packe and Capt. Abbott both procured examples 

 in the Falkland Islands. 



The Esquimo Whimbrel was common enough in 

 its season on the pampas in my day, appearing in 

 September to October in small flocks of thirty or 

 forty to a hundred or more, and often associating 

 with the Golden Plover ; but, as I now hear from 

 the authorities of the Smithsonian Institution at 

 Washington, it is practically extinct. 



BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER 



Rhynchops melanura 



Above brownish black ; forehead and wing-band white ; tail black ; 

 beneath white ; bill, apical half black, basal half orange ; feet red ; 

 length 19, wing 15 inches. Female similar. 



THE Black-tailed Skimmer, which is common on the 

 coasts of Brazil, migrates south in spring, following 

 the course of the Plata river in its journey, and 



