458 Mr. W. L. S. Loat on Birds 



the vicinity of habitations. They all belonged to the light- 

 coloured variety. 



18. Circus jeruginosus (Linn.). Marsh-Harrier. 



A specimen was obtained on Jan. 26th, and others were 

 seen on one or two occasions slowly flying about above the 

 bourdy on the look-out for small birds. 



19. *Circus pallidus Sykes. Pale-chested Harrier. 

 Seen on one occasion only. 



20. Falco .esalon Linn. Merlin. 

 A male was obtained on Feb. 12th. 



21. Coturnix communis Bonn. Quail. 



A dead Quail was picked up on the edge of the desert on 

 Feb. 11th. 



22. Cursorius gallicus Gm. Cream-coloured Courser. 

 This species was met with on two or three occasions along 



the edge of the desert. It is somewhat shy and not easy to 

 approach. The colour of its plumage, harmonizing as it 

 does with the sand of the desert, makes it a difficult bird to 

 distinguish until it moves. 



23. *Vanellus cristatus Meyer. Lapwing. 



A flock of five individuals of this species was seen on 

 Jan. 25th ; and several more were observed on subsequent 

 occasions, frequenting a large piece of marshy ground 

 covered with short grass. 



24. *Hoplopterus spinosus (Linn.). Spur-winged Plover. 

 A solitary individual was seen on Feb. 15th. I was 



informed that a number of these birds had been seen in 

 the Wadi during the previous September. 



25. .ZEgialitis cantiana (Lath.). Kentish Plover. 



A few individuals were generally to be found along the 

 edges of some of the lakes and freshwater ponds. 



26. *Numenius arquata Linn. Curlew. 

 This species was seen on one or two occasions. 



27. Limosa jEgocephala (L.). Black-tailed Godwit, 

 A single specimen was obtained on Feb. 15th. 



