Ornithology of Sardinia. 337 



155. Otis tetrax. 



Moderately common in some parts of the large plain be- 

 tween Cagliari and Oristano, and also in the smaller one which 

 runs up towards Iglesias. I found them chiefly in the flat 

 stony places, where the cistus was only sparingly scattered 

 and not very high. They were extremely shy and hard to 

 get at, rising very wild, and flying generally from a quarter 

 to half a mile, and running rapidly on alighting. Their flight 

 is peculiar, consisting of short quick flaps of the wings ; and 

 the tertiaries, being very long, give the bird a peculiar appear- 

 ance. The weight of a female was 1 lb. 13 oz. 



156. GEdicnemus crepitans. 

 Moderately common and resident. 



A 157. Vanellus cristatus. 



Very common in winter. None remain during summer. 



/ 158. Squatarola helvetica. 

 A winter visitor, not very numerous. 



-f 159. Charadrius pluvialis. 

 A spring visitor but not plentiful. 



160. Eudromias morinellus. 



According to Cara is a regular bird of passage, spending 

 the winter in the island. 



-f-161. ^Egialites hiaticula. 



Common, and some are stated by Cara to breed in the 

 island. 



-f- 162. ^Egialites minor. 



I shot at the hot spring of Acqua Cotta on the 30th of 

 May the only specimen I saw. Its stomach was full of the 

 elytra of small aquatic beetles and insects. 



They pass in considerable numbers along the coast of the 

 Riviera during the early part of April. 



163. iEGIALITES CANTIANUS. 



Very common all the year round along the sea-coast and 

 low sandy shores of the lagoons, where they keep in small 

 flocks of seven or eight. When on the ground thev are ex- 



