150 BVLLETIX: MI'SEI^M OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 



at hand with the tail pointing upward and the tip of the bill almost 

 touching the ground. Often they will circle about with a peculiar 

 nervous flutter. 



Their antics at times are very amusing. Two or three pairs will 

 join and with necks stretched out, bills pointed to the ground at right 

 angles to the neck, and tails erect they will bob around and around in 

 a small circle for a minute or two all the while giving their loud single 

 call. 



This species has much more individuality than the next whicli is a 

 quiet stolid bird, and not in the least noisy or excitable. 



Haematopus quoyi Brabourne & Chubb. 

 "Black Curlew". 



The less common of the oyster-catchers. I found no nests, and 

 was told they nested about a month later than H. leucopiw. 



They, like the others, are more common about pebbly beaches, and 

 .so far as I could observe feed to some extent on limpets. 



I never heard them make any noise whatever, and the other species 

 is seldom cjuiet. 



ZoNiBYX MODESTUS (Lichtenstein). 

 " Dotterel ". 



This l)eautiful little plover is abundant ever^'where during the 

 summer frequenting the dry "camp," and "Diddle-dee" bushes even 

 to the hill tops. At this season they are never on the beaches. 



1 Avas unable to find any eggs which are laid in early October. A 

 downy young was taken on January 23, a very late date as young 

 able to fly were taken on December 19. 



The mournful call of the Dotterel is one of the most characteristic 

 sounds of the "camp" where .sounds are few, save the almost constant 

 bleating of sheep. P^verywhere one hears the plaintive "Quee" of 

 this plover as it stands bobbing on a bunch of "Diddle-dee" bush. 

 On the wing it utters a "Quee-ru," the accent on the first syllable, 

 a very pretty call; at times a nervous "Cree-a-cree-a-cree-a" is given. 



The downy young taken at Port Stephens, West Falkland, January 

 23, 19H), M. C. Z. 70044, orig. no. 1310 is colored as follows: — 



