298 BIBDS OF TUNISIA 



DescriptioJt.— Adult male, spring, from Gafsa, South Tunisia. 



A narrow frontal line, lores, region round and beliind tlie eye, broad 

 band passing over tlie fore-crown and broad pectoral band, becoming 

 narrower at the back, black; large patch on the forehead, narrow band 

 across the crown, nape, entire throat and rest of underparts pure white ; 

 crown and upper-plumage generally pale greyish-brown, rather darker on 

 the quills and tail-feathers, which latter, with the exception of the median 

 rectrices, are tipped with white ; shafts of the primary quills brown with 

 the exception of that of the outermost feather on each side, which is white. 



Iris dark brown ; bill black, and yellow at base of lower mandible ; feet 

 yellowish. 



Total length 6-50, wing 4-50, culmen -60, tarsus 1. 



Adult female resembles the male, but is duller in coloration, and has 

 little or no black in its plumage. 



The Lesser Einged Plover is the least common of this group in 

 Tunisia, but is fairly abundant in the Kegency, in the interior as well 

 as on the coast, and appears to be resident throughout the year. 

 Salvia met vi'ith the species in the neighbourhood of the marsh of 

 Zana during the breeding season. I have notes of its occurrence in 

 the vicinity of Tatahouine, Gabes and Gafsa, as well as in various 

 localities in the north of the Regency. 



In Algeria the species is not uncommon, and, according to Loche, 

 some pairs remain and breed. It is also fairly abundant in Marocco, 

 and I have an example from Zarkten in the Atlas, about 5,000 feet 

 above sea-level, obtained on May 23rd, when the species was presum- 

 ably breeding. Mr. Meade-Waldo also found it nesting in suitable 

 places throughout the country, and up to a considerable elevation in 

 the Atlas {Ibis, 1903, p. 214). 



In the localities it frequents and in its general habits the Lesser 

 Einged Plover does not differ greatly from the preceding species, 

 though it is said to prefer the neighbourhood of inland waters to the 

 sea-shore. It is also perhaps less gregarious than that species and 

 more shy and wary. Its principal food consists of worms and water- 

 insects. Its notes differ slightly from those of its congeners. The 

 localities to which this species resorts for breeding purposes, vary 

 considerably in their character, being sometimes fiat expanses of sand 

 and shingle on river banks, at others high stony spots and dry 

 mountain-torrent beds. The eggs, four in number, are of a light buff 

 colour, with pale lilac shell-marks and minute dark brown surface- 

 spots and streaks. Average measurements 27 X 22 mm. 



