HiEMATOPUS OSTRALEGUS. 163 
tame, being seldom molested by the Spaniards. The local 
name of Charran, which I have heard for them near 
Gibraltar, signifies a low unmitigated blackguard; and 
should this epithet be applied to a Spaniard, the result would 
be probably a " punalada/' or stab with the queer-shaped 
clasp-knife [navaja) which every Spaniard carries. 
The Kentish Plover is found throughout the year, but is 
most abundant during the seasons of migration. They are 
very active, nimble little birds, running along the shore 
sometimes in front and within a yard of one's horse's feet; 
and they are frequently seen running out on the wet sand as 
one wave recedes, to rush back again as another returns : but 
they are much too agile ever to be caught by the influx. 
About the 20th of April they commence to lay their four 
stone-coloured eggs, marked with black spots and streaks. 
Some regularly breed on the dry sandy hillocks and banks 
near the mouth of the First River (Guadarranque) ; but, 
like the other species of JEgialitis, they frequently nest far 
away from the shore, as on the dried mud of the marisma. 
The adult males have, in the breeding-plumage, the top of 
the head and occiput reddish brown, the forehead white bor- 
dered by a black patch ; the legs, toes, claws, and bill are 
black. 
223. Strepsilas interpres (Linn.). The Turnstone. 
Moorish. Shorno {Favier). 
" This bird is not numerous, being found near Tangier on 
the coast and sometimes on the edges of freshwater lakes. 
They are more abundant near Rabat. Arriving from the 
north in September, they return in February.^' — Favier. 
The Turnstone is found on the Spanish coast in autumn 
and spring, I never saw them in any quantity, and chiefly 
observed them about the end of March, occasionally in com- 
pany with the Ring-Plover [jEgialitis hiaticula). 
224i. HjEMatopus ostralegus (Linn.) . The Oystercatcher. 
Moorish. Aisha el behar {Favier) . 
" This species is found near Tangier on passage, passing 
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