PHALAROPlD^j SCOLOPACIDjE. 165 
very seldom seen where there is grass or rushes. They 
are generally very tame and confidiug; while their conspicuous 
black-and-white plumage and noisy habits render them 
certain to attract attention, either as they fly with their long 
pink legs stretched out. Heron-like, behind them, or as they 
wade about, usually up to their knees, in the shallow water, 
where they seek their food in the shape of aquatic insects, 
gnats, and flies. 
The Black-winged Stilt is almost entirely migratory ; but 
in some years a few undoubtedly remain behind throughout 
the winter, as I have seen small lots on the 26th and 27th of 
November in different years, many on the 22nd of December, 
and others on the 14th of January. The chief number appear 
towards the end of March and beginning of April ; and they 
are then not unfrequently seen near Gibraltar at the mouths 
of various rivers, but soon pass on to their breeding-places, 
where they nest in colonies and deposit their four eggs on 
the half-dried mud. I have seen eggs as early as the 28th 
of April ; but the majority lay about the 10th of May. 
Family PhalaropiDjE. 
227. Phalaropus puucarius, Linn. Grey Phalarope. 
Favier mentions only two specimens of this bird as having 
been obtained by him near Tangier, in December 1858. Mr. 
Drake also refers to this Phalarope as having been shot near 
Tangier during the month of January ; while, on the Spanish 
side, I am able to record one, killed on the 29th of November, 
1872, at Tapatandla, on the edge of the Laguna de la Janda. 
Family ScoLOPAciDiE. 
228. ToTANUs CANESCENS (Gm.). The Greenshank. 
All that Favier has to say of this bird is that it is met with 
on passage, " returning south during the month of October 
to winter probably in the interior of Africa;" and as the 
Greenshank is recorded by Andersson as common in Damara 
Land, Favier was not much out in his supposition. He does 
