197 
the Province of Buenos Ayres . 
in the mean time appearing perfectly indifferent. Sometimes 
two or three males- are seen before a single female, and never 
separate without a fight. I have never seen them use their 
wing-spurs in their encounters, though they strike at each 
other with their beaks, and sometimes continue fighting in 
the air. To the sportsman this bird is a constant nuisance, 
invariably uttering its cries at a critical moment when he is 
creeping up to Ducks or game. Common at Baradero in April. 
—122. Charadrius virginicus, Borkh.; Scl. et Salv. No- 
mencl. p. 142. 
Pretty common in February and March; but I have not 
observed them at any other season. About a dozen, shot on 
the 5th of the latter month, were in full moult. They are fond 
of high and pretty dry ground; but yet I do not think they 
wander far from water. Iris wood-brown; beak, legs, and 
feet black. 
I think I observed Oreophilus ruficollis here on the 21st 
April of this year; but I could not satisfactorily identify it. 
123. Eudromias modesta (Licht.); Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 
1868, p. 144. 
Autumn and winter visitor; found in large flocks. 
124. Thinocorus rumicivorus, Eschsch. ; Scl. et Salv. 
P. Z. S. 1868, p. 143. 
A winter visitor, sometimes found in large flocks. In 
their habits they resemble the Rails and Sandpipers. Like 
the former they sometimes squat closely to the ground till 
almost trodden upon, and when put up run some distance 
before taking wing. They frequent very arid dry places, and 
also damp marshy ground! In the air their long, pointed 
wings, and rapid erratic flight, added to their low whistling 
note, always suggests an affinity to the Tringse. In size and 
weight I have found these birds to differ exceedingly; and 
this is not dependent on sex. The black lines which extend 
from the corners of the lower mandible, enclosing the white 
of the throat, and join the black band across the lower part 
of the chest, are more clearly defined in the male than in the 
female; and the latter has the throat dusky white. The young 
SER. IV.-VOL. I. 
p 
