or little-known Limicolje. 249 



1 have already referred to the wide geographical range of 

 the present species ; and but for the above digression upon its 

 habits, into which 1 was led from a consideration of Dr. Cul- 

 len^s remarks upon its mode of nidification in the Dobrudscha, 

 I should have proceeded to trace its distribution beyond the 

 European continent. There can be no doubt, from the sea- 

 sons at which it has been noted by many observers on both 

 shores of the Mediterranean, that it passes southwards and 

 eastwards in the autumn, returning in an opposite direction 

 in the spring. Thus, according to Mr. C. A. Wright (Ibis, 

 1864, p. 149), it has been met with in Malta and Gozo in 

 spring and autumn. Lord Lilford met with it in Epirus in 

 December. Mr. O. Salvin saw it at Zana and Djendeli in 

 June ; but " at Chot Saboun, the eastern extremity of the 

 marsh of Zana, the bird was most numerous." Canon Tris- 

 tram found it at Tuggurt, south of the Atlas, in January. 

 Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub, Mr. E. C. Taylor, Capt. Shelley 

 (who saw it in February and March), and others bear testi- 

 mony to its spending the winter in Egypt and Nubia^ ; while 

 Dr. Kirk and Dr. Hartlaub respectively affirm that it regu- 

 larly visits the Zambesi region and Madagascar. Travelling 

 down the west coast, in the same way, by Senegambia and 

 Damaraland, where Andersson frequently shot specimens, it 

 finds its way into Cape Colony, as we know from the obser- 

 vations of Dr. Andrew Smith, and the more recent investi- 

 gations of Mr. E. L. Layard. 



Andersson's note on this species, as furnished by Mr. J. 

 H. Gurney in the ' Birds of Damara Land,^ runs as follows : — 

 " This handsome and peculiar bird is occasionally found on 

 the south-west coast of Africa, and also occurs, though less 

 frequently, inland. In the Cape Colony, however, I have 

 found the case, as regards its distribution, slightly reversed. 

 I may mention as inland localities for this species Objim- 

 binque, where I have seen it once or twice, and Ondonga, 

 where it was shot by Axel. At certain seasons the Avocet 

 is not uncommon on the coast at Walvisch Bay, Sandwich 



* Dr. Brehm believes that the N.E. African form may be distinguished 

 as Hecnrvirosfra hahhi: but in this opinion I cannot roncnr. 



