in the vicinity of Tunis and Biserta. 107 



Otis Tetrax. The Polio di Cartagini, or Carthage fowl, the name 

 it is generally known by at Tunis ; it is held in great estimation for 

 the table, and is consequently rare in the immediate vicinity. I 

 however met with a few, chiefly in the high corn-lields, where at 

 this season they probably have their nests : from the quick vibratory 

 motion of their wings, the flight is so peculiar that they are not 

 easy to be mistaken ; they appear when flying almost white. 



(Edicnemus crepitans. Common : breed in the fallows. 



Himantopus melanopterus . A few seen in the marshes at the head 

 of the freshwater lake at Biserta : probably breed there, as they were 

 seen in pairs. 



r, • * > Common a],onff the shores of the salt lake. 



C. minor. J ° 



C cantianus. I never found these birds mixing with the other 

 kinds of dottrels and sandpipers, but they were generally seen scat- 

 tered about the dry sandy grounds near the Goletta, or in some 

 neighbouring fallow, where on the approach of any one they run 

 most swiftly in preference to taking wing ; indeed they are so much 

 the colour of the ground they frequent, that they are not easily de- 

 tected : though I did not find their eggs, yet I have no doubt they 

 breed there. 



Vanellus melanogaster. A few seen on the shores of the saltwater 

 lake. 



Strepsilas collaris. Common on the shores of the saltwater lake. 



Grus cinerea. These birds were not seen, but Sir Thomas Reade 

 informs me that they are not uncommon in the winter months round 

 the lake of Tunis, and are probably found at Biserta. 



G. Virgo. Is also occasionally seen in winter at Tunis, during the 

 breeding-season ; they are very common on some of the islands along 

 the coast, especially at Lampidosa. 



Ciconia* alba. A few seen at Biserta, in the marshes only, 



Ardea"^ cinerea. Very common. 



A. "^ purpurea. Only one seen. 



^.* Garzetta. Very common, especially on the banks of the river 

 that connects the fresh with the salt lake at Biserta. 



^.* Verany. A few of these very rare birds I found at the fisheries 

 at Biserta ; they seem more addicted to perching than others of the 

 tribe, as when disturbed they would immediately fly for refuge to 

 some tree, where, standing with outstretched neck on the highest 

 part, it is difficult to get near them : though frequenting localities 

 where fish abounded, and which one would suppose to be their na- 

 tural food, yet on examination I never in any one instance found a 

 vestige of fish in the stomach, but invariably found it to contain the 

 remains of the blind- worm {Anguis fragilis) ; one I found entire and 

 about 8 inches long, also locusts and small beetles. 



A.'^ rallo'ides. Common along the banks of the river between the 

 lakes. 



* It is remarkable, that though most of these birds were common about 

 Biserta, none of them should have been found on the borders of the Tunis 

 lake. 



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