84 Mr. H. Noble — Forty-four 
Pterocles alchata. 
Local : very wild and difficult of approach ; seen in small 
parties of six or seven at the beginning of May and later in 
pairs. As the birds rise they utter thtir harsh cry and 
continue calling on the wing. I never saw one settle within 
sight. We obtained four sets of three or two eggs from 
Mav 22nd to Mav 25th, all fresh. No nest is made, but 
the eggs are deposited under the shelter of a thistle or other 
plant on the sun-baked marisma. In my small experience 
they are not very difficult to find ; the female always behaved 
in the same way, rising at a distance of from sixty to a 
hundred yards and uttering her wild cry, whereupon I marked 
the spot as nearly as possible, put down a handkerchief, came 
back twenty yards and commenced to hunt in a circle, and 
in every case the eggs were found. If a pair rise, there are 
no eggs. 
Caccabis rufa. 
Common, in spite of nets, traps, call-birds, and every 
engine of destruction, in and out of season. One nest of 
thirteen eggs was seen on May 2nd. 
CoTURNIX COMMUNIS. 
Common, and persecuted all the year round. Fresh 
eggs were shown me on April 14th, and young were seen on 
the wing on May 12th. 
Kallus aquaticus. 
Probably more common than would appear. We only 
found one nest, which was in high rushes, on J\lay 2nd ; it 
contained two eggs. 
PORZANA BAILLONI. 
Common, if you know where to look for it. We found 
eleven nests with eggs from May 2nd to May 20th, and 
many others which had been trampled upon by cattle or had 
had the eggs eaten by rats and pigs ! In every case but one 
the nests were placed in low rushes and grass growing in water 
from a few inches to a foot or more deep. They were never 
in the middle of the swamp, but within twenty yards of the 
sides. The nests are neat little structures, made of dry 
