Ornithology of Northern Africa. 79 



to be found running rapidly along the sand by all the chotts and 

 sebkhas in parties of from two to eight. It breeds everywhere, 

 but, unlike our Ring-Plovei", appears to lay only three eggs, 

 which are placed on the level sand, without the precaution of 

 even selecting the impress of a camel's foot. 



131. ^GiALiTEs MINOR. (Little Riug-Plover.) 



As universally distributed, but not nearly so abundant, as the 

 last-mentioned. There seems to be this distinction in their 

 habits, that the Little Plover resorts rather to the weds and 

 dry water-courses than to the open salt-lakes. Li winter plumage 

 it is very difficult to discriminate between a large series of these 

 two birds. 



132. CuRSORius GALLicus. (Crcam-coloured Courser.) "Song 

 e//oe/" C' Camel-pricker''), Arab. 



From the small number we observed during winter, I am in- 

 clined to believe that even in the southern desert the greater 

 portion migrate. See ' Ibis,' vol. i. pp. 79, 354. 



133. Vanellus CRisTATUs. (Lapwing.) " Biheth" Arab. 



A few penetrate as far as the Chamba country, where I shot 

 them in December. Not even a straggler remains in Northern 

 Algeria after March. 



134. Glareola pratincola. (Collared Pratincole.) 

 Extremely abundant whether near marshes or lakes. Found 



at Ain el Ibel, Western Algei'ia, in October, and breeding in the 

 same district in June, as well as the following year throughout 

 the Eastern district. See ' Ibis,' vol. i. p. 354. 



135. Himantopus melanopterus, (Black-winged Stilt.) 

 Resorts to the ditches of the oases in winter. Breeds at El 



Aghouat, but more abundantly in the Northern Sahara. See 

 ' Ibis,' vol. i. p. 355. 



136. Recurvirostra avocetta. (Avocet.) 

 A few observed at Tuggurt in January. 



137. Gallinago media. (Common Snipe.) 

 In ditches and marshes everywhere in winter. 



138. Gallinago gallinula. (Jack Snipe.) 

 One shot by my companion in the Wed R^hir. 



