SQUATAROLA HELVETICA. 159 
I observed towards the end of April three or four pairs of 
Peewits, which were nesting at the northern end of the lakes 
of Ras-Dowra. As we had not sufficient time to go further 
than the commencement of these lakes, probably many others 
were to be found breeding still further south. The place 
where I saw them was some eighty miles at the least to the 
south of Tangier. On the Spanish side of the Straits very 
few, compared with their numbers in winter, remain to breed 
in the marismas of the Guadalquivir, where I found the nest 
with young on the 2Gth of April. Curiously, none remain to 
breed about the Laguna de la Janda, or, as far as I could 
ascertain, anywhere but in the marisma. The majority of the 
Peewits arrive near Gibraltar about the middle of October, 
and take their departure north about the first week in March. 
During the winter they are to be found on every level piece 
of ground ; and I have seen them occasionally on the green 
glacis of the batteries near the Alameda at Gibraltar, and 
often noticed them on the " North Front ;" while at times 
they are found on the hill-sides at a considerable elevation if 
there be any grassy and suitable open spot. They seem to 
be more scattered and dispersed about than is usual in 
England, although large flocks may sometimes be seen. 
The Peewit used to be an unfailing source of diversion to 
the British subaltern, and also to the '' sportsman " of the 
Rock, who, a marvel of leather straps, gaiters, bags — leather 
all over — used to sally out of Gibraltar for a Sunday's 
shooting, accompanied generally by a bob-tailed, mangy, 
lean and hungry-looking species of pointer — by its appearance 
warranted to devour immediately any thing its master might 
kill; but the unfortunate animal probably seldom had the 
opportunity of having its appetite so gratified. 
217. Squatarola helvetica (Linn.). The Grey Plover. 
Spanish. Redolin. 
Favier only remarks that "this Plover is found near 
Tangier between the months of December and March.'' 
The Grey Plover appears chiefly to arrive near Gibraltar 
during the middle of November, and, though frequently seen 
