An Ornithological Letter from Menione. 157 



A curious habit of the Zic-zac (though not confined to this 

 species, as I have noticed it in several other Waders) is that of 

 suddenly jerking up its body whilst on the ground, sometimes 

 emitting its cry of " Zac ! " at the same time — in fact, looking 

 exactly as if afflicted with a violent hiccup. 



The flight of the Spur-winged Plover is strong and vigorous, 

 and partakes of the same jerky and energetic character which 

 distinguishes this species in all its movements. 



This bird feeds principally upon small aquatic insects and 

 mollusks, and, as is usual in birds whose food is of this character 

 (and, indeed, in many others), the stomach always contains, 

 in addition, a number of stones to assist digestion. 



The irides are deep red ; the beak, feet, and legs black. The 

 sexes are alike in plumage, the male being slightly the larger of 

 the two. 



I did not find the nest of the Spur-winged Plover; and 

 although some eggs of this species were brought to me at 

 Damietta, they were so mixed up with those of Himantopus 

 melanopterus as to prevent my feeling any degree of certainty 

 with regard to them. Several of them correspond with the figure 

 given by Dr. Bree in his ' Birds of Europe ;' but I am hoping, 

 in an approaching campaign in Egypt, to be more successful in 

 obtaining authentic specimens. 



[To be continued.] 



XIV. — An Ornithological Letter from Mentone. 

 By J. Traherne Moggridge. 



To the Editor of ' The Ibis.' 



Villa Laurenti, Mentone, 

 Alpes Maritimes, France, Nov. 28. 



Sir, — I now take advantage of your kind ofi"er of listening 



to the accounts I might send you of birds from time to time. 



I hope that, though such accounts are of necessity desultory and 



disconnected, there may yet be some facts gathered from them 



ultimately. The day after I had the pleasure of seeing you in 



London I left England, and the next day found us in Paris. On 



