155 
of the Falkland Islands. 
17. Hoplopterus cayanus (Lath.). Philomachus cayanus, 
Darwin, Zool. Yoy. Beagle, iii. p. 127. 
I obtained a single specimen of this Plover in 1860, and sent 
it to England. It was shot near Stanley; and another was seen 
a short time afterwards. 
18. Eudromias urvillii (Garn.). (Dotterel.) 
It may safely be said that this is a migratory bird in East 
Falkland. The Dotterels first appear in the beginning of Sep¬ 
tember, when the dry peat-banks in all parts of the island are 
covered with them. Their breast-plumage is then of a beautiful 
red. They lay the first week in October (as appears from my 
note-book), placing their eggs, which are two in number, on the 
dry moss, without making any nest. The eggs are so nearly 
the colour of the surrounding ground that one almost treads on 
them before seeing them. I have sometimes, however, found 
their eggs placed under the shelter of a bush. After the breed¬ 
ing season the bright colour on the breast of these birds fades 
away. In the month of February they commence to gather in 
flocks along the coast, and by the end of April disappear en¬ 
tirely, and do not return until the end of August or beginning 
of September of the following year. I have observed that these 
birds always leave their eggs when any one approaches and 
walk away, calling all the time. Of an afternoon, however, I 
have disturbed them off their nests: they appear then to sit 
more closely. 
19. jEgialites falklandicus (Lath.). (Double-ringed 
Plover.) 
This Plover is a spring visitor, arriving about the beginning 
of September, and breeding shortly afterwards, although I have 
also found a nest with fresh eggs in it in October. The eggs, 
three in number, are generally laid on a bank at a short distance 
from the beach, without any nest, being merely deposited in a 
hole. 
20. H^matopus ater, Vieill. (Black Oyster-catcher.) 
The Black Oyster-catcher remains in East Falkland the whole 
year round, laying its eggs (two in number) in the beginning 
of November, just one month later than our other Oyster- 
m 2 
