1874.] OF LITTLE-KNOWN LIMICOLjE. 457 



CEdicnemtjs mactjlosus, Temm. 



This is another egg obtained by Mr. E. L. Layard in Cape Colony, 

 where the bird is generally distributed, preferring broken ground 

 sparingly covered with dwarf bush. The nest, like that of the last- 

 named bird, is a mere depression in the soil. This egg, I find, is figured 

 by Thienemann (plate lvii. fig. 3), but is unfortunately uncoloured. 



iEGiALrns pectjarius (Temm.). (Plate LX. fig. 4.) 

 Since working out the synonymy of this species (Ibis, 1873, 

 p. 262), I find that Vieillot's specific name varius, to which I gave 

 priority in consequence of its having been published four years prior 

 to pecuarius of Temminck, had been previously applied by Linnaeus 

 (ex Brisson) to the Grey Plover, Squatarola helvetica, so that 

 Temminck's name will stand after all. 



In the paper above referred to (p. 266) I thus described the eggs 

 of this bird, one of which is now figured : — " The eggs, of which I 

 have specimens procured in South Africa by my friend Mr. Layard, are 

 most like the eggs of 2E. tricollaris and M. nigrifrons (Australia). 

 They are a trifle smaller than those of the well-known 2E. cantianus, 

 less pyriform in shape, and with a smoother and therefore more glossy 

 shell. In colour, though not in shape and size, they remind one of 

 the egg of Cursorius gallicus, being of a pale clay-colour closely 

 freckled over with minute specks and scratches of umber-brown." 



iEGiALms tricollaris (Vieill.). (Plate LX. fig. 5.) 

 This bird, according to Mr. Layard (who presented the specimen 

 now figured), breeds on the sea-shore or along the banks of streams 

 and " vleys " in the Cape Colony and never far from water. " The 

 nest," he adds, " is a mere depression in the soil, unprotected by stone 

 or bush ; and the eggs, enormous for the size of the bird, are two in 

 number, of a dirty white ground-colour, profusely and minutely 

 covered with hair streaks, having a tendency to run in zones, there 

 being always one at the obtuse end." This peculiar character is not 

 shown by Thienemann, whose figure of this egg (plate lix. fig. 7) is 

 not satisfactory. 



Vanellus cayennensis (Gmelin). 



This South-American Lapwing in its mode of nesting, number 

 and colour of its eggs, closely resembles our well-known Vanellus 

 cristatus. 



An egg now before me was taken by Mr. G. Fitzmaurice in Uruguay, 

 not far from Monte Video. 



jEgialitis falklandica (Latham). (Plate LX. fig. 6.) 

 I am indebted to Mr. Gould for a nest of three eggs of this species 

 from the Falkland Isles, one of which is here figured. I believe no 

 representation of this egg has been previously published, although 

 Captain Abbott has referred to his having found the nest and 

 eggs, without describing them, also in the Falkland Isles. He 

 says (Ibis, 1861, p. 155.), "This Plover is a spring visitor, arriving 

 Proc. Zool. Soc— 1874, No. XXX. 30 



