158 CHARADRIID^. 
domesticated and bred so as to be perhaps used for the 
table ; but their value would make them rather expensive 
luxuries, worthy of comparison with those splendid feasts 
given by the ancient Roman Emperors ; for each bird would 
cost more than twelve dozen capons. 
" Meanwhile, considering the eggs laid by the above-named . 
female bird, the size of the testes of the males and ovaries of 
the females in August and September, one may conclude that 
they breed more than once a year, and that the complement 
of eggs is two. These are rather elliptical in shape, of a 
cream-colour, spotted or marbled with red, bluish ash, and 
brown." — Favier. 
Favier is clearly in error in supposing that the complement 
of eggs laid by this Courser in a wild state is two, as it is 
now well known that birds of this tribe, like the Pratincoles, 
usually lay three eggs. Those of the present species are 
figured in ' The Ibis ' for 1859 (p. 76, pi. ii.) . 
I never had the good fortune to meet with the Cream- 
coloured Courser on the Spanish side of the Straits ; nor is it 
included by Mr. Saunders in his 'List of the Birds of Southern 
Spain.' Probably it does occasionally occur ; and from wliat 
I now know, the most likely locality to look for it near 
Gibraltar would be the flat ground near Tapatanilla, on 
the road between Tarifa and Vejer. 
Family Charadriid.^. 
216. Vanellus CRIST atus, Meyer. The Peewit, or Lap- 
wing. 
Moorish. Bibet, Dihoudi. Spanish. Ave fria (cold bird) . 
" This Plover occurs near Tangier in abundant flocks 
throughout the winter months, arriving from the north 
during October and November, crossing back again to 
Europe in February and March. 
'^ The superstitious Arabs believe that these birds are Jews 
changed into the shape of birds, and also believe that they 
still retain all their Israelitish characteristics, even wearing 
the black Hebrew skull-cap.'' — Favier. 
