300 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



The locality selected by this species for breeding is generally on 

 or near the sea-coast, or on the borders of inland waters, and its eggs 

 are deposited on ground usually covered with shingle and the debris 

 of shells. The eggs, four in number, are of a yellowish-buff-colour, 

 with dark grey shell-marks and black surface-spots. Average 

 measurements 35 x 25 mm. 



EUDROMIAS MORINELLUS (Linnaeus). 

 DOTTEREL. 



Charadrius morinellus, Linn. St/sI. Nat. i, p. 254 (1766). 

 Eudromias morinella, Brchm, Voog. Deidscld. p. 545 (1831). 

 Eudromias morinellus, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiv, p. 234: ; 



Koanig, J. /. 0. 1888, p. 270; id. J. /. 0. 1893, p. 83 ; Whitakcr, Ibis, 



1894, p. 99; Erlangcr, J. f. 0. 1900, p. 58. 

 Morinellus sibiricus, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 265 (1867). 



Descrijition. — Adult male, winter, from North Tunisia. 

 Upper plumage generally greyish-brown, the nape rufescent-bufi', streaked 

 with grey ; a broad whitish line passing over the eye and encircling the 

 nape; chin white; sides of the head and throat whitish, streaked with 

 grey; breast buff, washed with grey ; abdomen warm buff; lower abdomen 

 and crissum white. 



Iris brown ; bill and feet blackish. 



Total length 9 inches, wing 5-75, culmen -75, tarsus 1'50. 



Adult female similar to the male. 



In spring this species has the crown nearly black, with a broad white 

 line running round the nape from over the eyes ; upper parts ash-brown ; 

 chin and throat dull white ; upper breast and flanks rufous ; lower breast 

 and upper abdomen black. 



The Dotterel is not uncommon in Tunisia in winter and during 

 the periods of migration, arriving in September and October, and 

 leaving again in March. It appears to be most abundant during the 

 autumn months, and may frequently be found in large numbers at 

 that season all along the east coast of the Kegency, as well as on the 

 high plateaux of the interior. I have also met with the species in 

 the latter districts in the month of March. 



Lord Lilford writes ("Birds of Northamptonshire," ii., p. 9): 



