Days' Nesting in Andahicia. 87 



always turned towards the intruder, and this long before 

 eggs are laid. I killed one bird which was nearly white. 



^GIALITIS CANTIANA. 



Common. A set of three eggs was found on April 30th. 

 Curiously enough, these eggs were more incubated than others 

 found subsequently. 



Vanellus vulgaris. 



Very common ; nesting on the dry marisma — often in 



company with Redshanks. Fresh eggs were seen on April 

 28th. 



Recurvirostra avocetta. 



Abundant. On one little island of particularly dry mud I 

 saw a dozen or more nests within a circle of fifteen yards. 

 The eggs are taken by the score for eating ; the white is 

 transparent when boiled, and they are palatable. 



HiMANTOPUS CANDIDUS. 



Very numerous and more widely distributed than the last 

 species, breeding on hard or wet ground; sometimes the nest 

 is slightly raised in some low scrub, while there is more 

 material in it than is generally the case with the Limicolse. 

 When the nesting-places are disturbed the birds shew extreme 

 anxiety, flying round and uttering a plaintive cry. Our first 

 uest was found on April 30th. 



TOTANUS CALIDRIS. 



Abundant. I once saw a regular flock rise from their nests 

 when a Raven came by ; they dashed at him continually, and 

 twice made him settle on the ground ; eventually he departed 

 down wind, followed by the screaming hosts for some distance. 

 Fresh eggs were seen from April 30th. 



Sterna minuta. 



Common, laying on the dry marisma. The first eggs were 

 taken on May 13th, but it was not until the 26th that we 

 found any number. No nests are made, the eggs being 

 placed on the hard ground. One little colony with eight sets 

 could have been covered with a tablecloth. Two eggs seem 

 to be the usual number, and only once did I see three, 



