VANELLUS VANELLUS 301 



" I found this species in great abnndaiice on the plains near Tunis, 

 in the late autumn of 1856, consorting with Sand-grouse, Peewits, 

 Golden Plover, Little Bustards and Cranes, and shot a good many 

 from horse, donkey and camel ; on foot I found it impossible to get 

 within shot, unless I had the luck to fall in with the Dotterels away 

 from any of the above-mentioned associates, though I have frequently 

 seen them and the Golden Plovers running fearlessly about within 

 a few feet of the Arab ploughmen." 



According to Loche, the Dotterel is to be found in Algeria in 

 the high plateaux districts, as well as on the sea-coast, and Dr. Koenig 

 met with it in the Sahara. 



The species occurs in Marocco, though apparently more sparingly 

 than it does further east. As a straggler it seems to have been found 

 in the Canary Islands. 



The summer quarters of this bird are in Northern Europe and 

 Northern Asia. It breeds in considerable numbers in Scandinavia, 

 and has been found nesting in Nova Zembla. A limited number 

 of the species apparently also nest in the higher districts of Eastern- 

 central Europe, but throughout the greater part of Central Europe 

 and in the south of our Continent it is merely a migrant. 



The Dotterel chiefly frequents open uncultivated highlands and 

 moorlands, and is usually to be found in small flocks. It is so 

 remarkably tame and confiding at times that it has gained a repu- 

 tation for stupidity, and hence the uncomplimentary names, both 

 scientific and trivial, which have been bestowed upon it. 



Its flight is swift and powerful, and it runs with facility. The 

 food of the species consists chiefly of worms, snails, and insects 

 of various kinds. 



VANELLUS VANELLUS (Linnseus) 

 LAPWING. 



Tringa vanellus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 248 (1766). 



Vanellus vanellus, Licht. Nomcncl. Av. Mus. Berol. p. 95 (1854) ; 



Sharpe, Cat. Birds, Brit. Mus. xxiv, p. 166 ; Erlanger, J. f. 0. 1900, 



p. 56. 

 Vanellus cristatus, Malherbe, Cat. Rais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 20 (1846) ; Loche, 

 ■ Expl. ScL Alg. Ois. ii, p. 271 (1867) ; Kncnig, J.f. 0. 1888, p. 271; id. 



J.f. 0. 1893, p. 85 ; Whitaker, Ibis, 1894, p. 99. 



