310 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



This northern species is to be met with occasionally in Tunisia 

 during the autumn and winter months, but cannot be looked upon 

 as otherwise than rare, and of irregular occurrence in the Eegency. 

 I have two examples of it in my collection, one obtained in the 

 vicinity of Tunis, the other on a small island near Bizerta. Blanc 

 informs me that he has only obtained three or four examples of the 

 species dm-ing the past ten years. 



According to Loche, the species is to be met with occasionally in 

 Algeria as an accidental visitor, after stormy weather. There seems 

 to be no record of its occurrence in Marocco. 



The Ked-necked Phalarope inhabits the northern portions of 

 Europe, Asia and America, its migration in winter in Europe extend- 

 ing as far as the southern shores of the Mediterranean. 



In its habits and in its flight the present species resembles some 

 of the Sandpipers. It is generally to be found on the sea-coast and 

 seldom on inland waters. It is gregarious, and usually to be met with 

 in small parties. It is remarkably tame and unsuspicious, and appears 

 to be totally devoid of fear. It flies, swims, and dives with ease, and 

 feeds chiefly on aquatic insects, worms and small crustaceans. Its 

 note is a low " ttceet." 



There appears to be no record of the occurrence of the Grey 

 Phalarope (P. fulicarius) in Tunisia or Algeria, though the species 

 seems to have been met with on more than one occasion in Marocco. 

 Mr. Drake states that he obtained an example of it in that country 

 in the month of January {Ihis, 1867, p. 429), while, according to 

 Colonel Irby, Favier obtained two specimens of the bird near 

 Tangier in December, 1858 (Orn. Strs. Gih 2nd ed. p. 275). 



SCOLOPAX RUSTICULA Liunseus. 

 WOODCOCK. 



Scolopax rustioola, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 243 (1766) ; Malherhe, Cat. 



Bais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 21 (1846) ; Loche, Expl. Sci. Akj. Ois. ii, p. 291 



(1867) ; Eocnig, J. f. 0. 18S8, p. 276. 

 Scolopax rusticula, Bodd. Tabl. PI. Enl. p. 53 (1783) ; Sharpe, Cat. 



Birds Brit. Mas. xxiv, p. 671 ; Koenig, J. f. 0. 1893, p. 89 ; Erlanger, 



J.f. 0. 1900, p. 70. 



