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Show 1874.] OF LITTLE-KNOWN LIMICOL^E. 457 G3DICNEMUS MACULOSUS, 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. iEGiAHTis PECUARIUS (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 JE. tricollaris and AS. nigrifrons (Australia). They are a trifle smaller than those of the well-known AS. 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. iEGiALrTis 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 |
