380 Mr. W. Raw on the [Ibis, 



li>3. Charadrius morinellus. Dotterel. 



Occasionally small parties were observed at Abu Zabaal. 

 Usually seen on dry fallow land or tbe open desert. In 

 some winters more numerous tlian otliers. Is always tame 

 and confiding. Specimens obtained on ID December and 

 2 January. 



194. Himantopus himantopus himantopus. Black-winged 



Stilt. 



This species passes through Abu Zabaal in spring and 

 autumn. Observed between 22 March and 16 April and 

 during the first fortnight in September. 



Major F. W. Borman and I found six pairs breeding in a 

 n.ost foul swamp at the Wadi Natrun in 1*J18. We found 

 three nests containing eggs much incubated on 25 May. 

 Two nests contained three eggs, and one nest two. 



195. Hoplopterus spinosus. Spur-winged Plover. 

 Common and resident at Inchas, and fairly numerous at 



Abu Zabaal. This species breeds from 10 April onwards, 

 and I saw a clutch of four eggs near the Birket Accrashi as 

 late as 10 August, 1910. The eggs ai-e frequently laid on 

 the margin of a pool of stagnant water, and sometimes are 

 quite conspicuous by being shown up in the white salty 

 deposit left by the r(;ceding water. Four is the usual 

 clutch, but I have found the bird sitting on two or tliree 

 only. This species is very wary, and is much detested by 

 shooters, as it gives a very noisy alarm on the approach of 

 danger. Eggs were taken in the Wadi Natrun, and newly- 

 hatched chicks seen at the end of May 1918. 



[My dates for fresh eggs taken at Inchas vary from 

 20 April to 27 June, thougli mid-May seems to be the best 

 time. I have one pair of eggs, incubated when found, 

 which have a very strong erythristic tendency. — R. S.] 



19G. Eecurvirostra avosetta avosetta. Avocet. 

 A flock of twelve were identified when fivins; over Abu 

 Zabaal on 2S September, 1916. 



