in the vieinity of Tunis and Biserta. 107 
Otis Tetrax.. The Pollo di Cartagini, or Carthage fowl, the name 
it is generally known by at Tunis; it is held in great estimation for 
the table, and is consequently rare in the immediate vicinity. I 
however met with a few, chiefly in the high corn-fields, where at 
this season they probably have their nests: from the quick vibratory 
motion of their wings, the flight is so peculiar that they are not 
easy to be mistaken ; they appear when flying almost white. 
C&dicnemus crepitans. Common : breed in the fallows. 
Himantopus melanopterus. A few seen in the marshes at the head 
of the freshwater lake at Biserta : probably breed there, as they were 
seen in pairs. 
Charadrius Hiaticula. 
C. minor. 
C. cantianus. 1 never found these birds mixing with the other 
kinds of dottrels and sandpipers, but they were generally seen scat- 
tered about the dry sandy grounds near the Goletta, or in some 
neighbouring fallow, where on the approach of any one they run 
most swiftly in preference to taking wing ; indeed they are so much 
the colour of the ground they frequent, that they are not easily de- 
tected: though I did not find their eggs, yet I have no doubt they 
breed there. 
Vanellus melanogaster. A few seen on the shores of the saltwater 
lake. 
Strepsilas collaris;, Common on the shores of the saltwater lake. 
Grus cinerea. ‘These birds were not seen, but Sir Thomas Reade 
informs me that they are not uncommon in the winter months round 
the lake of Tunis, and are probably found at Biserta. 
G. Virgo. Is also occasionally seen in winter at Tunis, during the 
breeding-season ; they are very common on some of the islands along 
the coast, especially at Lampidosa. 
Ciconia* alba. A few seen at Biserta, in the marshes only. 
Ardea* cinerea. Very common. 
A.* purpurea. Only one seen. 
A.* Garzetta. Very common, especially on the banks of the river 
that connects the fresh with the salt lake at Biserta. 
A.* Verany. A few of these very rare birds I found at the fisheries 
at Biserta; they seem more addicted to perching than others of the 
tribe, as when disturbed they would immediately fly for refuge to 
some tree, where, standing with outstretched neck on the highest 
part, it is difficult to get near them: though frequenting localities 
where fish abounded, and which one would suppose to be their na- 
tural food, yet on examination I never in any one instance found a 
vestige of fish in the stomach, but invariably found it to contain the 
remains of the blind-worm (Anguis fragilis) ; one 1 found entire and 
about 8 inches long, also locusts and small beetles. 
A.* ralloides. Common along the banks of the river between the 
lakes. 
* It is remarkable, that though most of these birds were common about 
Biserta, none of them should have been found on the borders of the ‘Tunis 
lake, 
12 
Common along the shores of the salt lake. 
