552 On the Avifauna of the Eastern Pyrenees. 



rares couples restent Pete sur les cotes maritimes de ce 

 departement et s^y reproduisent." 



92. ^GiALiTis cuRONicA (GmeL). 



Mediterranean Region. — The Little Ringed Plover is pro- 

 bably fairly common^ for we found two nests on the 29tli 

 and 30th of May^ respectively, at Argeles-sur-Mer. One of 

 these was on the sandy downs, a little more than one hundred 

 yards from the sea, and contained four eggs. The second 

 nest was a hollow in the sand, just above high-water mark, 

 on the shore of the Mediterranean. 



The breeding of this species on the shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean is interesting, and Avould seem to be quite unusual ; 

 since the standard authorities usually consulted in matters 

 connected with the breeding of our birds do not allude to 

 its nesting in the vicinity of the sea, and, indeed, remark 

 upon its general rarity on the coast at all seasons. It appears 

 to nest, however, on the sea-board at or near the northern 

 limit of its summer range in Europe. 



93. Tringoides hypoleucus (Linn.). 



Andorra. — The river and streams of Andoi'ra are such 

 brimful, boiling torrents during the nesting-season that the 

 almost entire absence of the Sandpiper is not a matter for 

 surprise. We observed a bird of this species, however, on 

 the only suitable habitat seen — a large patch of shingle on 

 the river-side, just below the village of Encamp, at 4100 feet, 

 on the 23rd of May. 



Upper Ariege. — Sandpipers were noted on the river just 

 below Ax and at Tarascon, and were no doubt breeding or 

 about to breed. M. Lacroix says that it nests accidentally 

 in Ariege, which can scarcely be a correct statement. 



94. ToTANUs CALiDRis (Linu.). 



Mediterranean Region. — Several Redshanks were observed 

 in the marshy tracts near the embouchures of the rivers. 

 M. Lacroix remarks on this species for the Pyrenees-Orien- 

 tales, " De passage en aout, septembre, avril et mai, quelques 

 rares couples restent en ete.^' 



