-66 CHARADRIID.E. 



domesticated and bred so as to be perhaps used for the table ; but 

 their value would make them rather expensive luxuries, worthy 

 of comparison with those splendid feasts given by the ancient 

 Roman Emperors ; for . each bird would cost more than twelve 

 dozen capons. 



" Meanwhile, considering the eggs laid by the above-named 

 female bird, the size of the testes of the males and ovaries of the 

 females in August and September, one may conclude that they 

 breed more than once a year, and that the complement of eggs is 

 two. These are rather elliptical in shape, of a cream-colour, 

 spotted or marbled with red, bluish ash, and brown." Famer. 



This Courser occasionally wanders across the Straits, having 

 been obtained near Malaga, in 1877, and two which were shot 

 at Coria, near Seville, in 1883, are in Lord Lilford's collection. 



General colour sandy buff ; primaries and primary-coverts black ; 

 axillaries Hack', bill as long as head, slightly curved; legs greyish white. 

 Length 9^-10 inches. 



286. Charadrius pluvialis, Linnseus. The Golden Plover. 



Moorish. Tullit. Spanish. Chorlito. 



" This Plover is very abundant around Tangier in large flocks, 

 which arrive during October and November, and which return to 

 Europe in February and March." Famer. 



The Golden Plover occurs as above on the Andalucian side of 

 the Straits ; but at the same time their numbers fluctuate very 

 much, in some winters the quantity seen being very great. Upon 

 their first arrival they are generally tame ; but being so much 

 sought after by the cazadores, they soon learn their danger and 

 become more wary. The earliest noticed near Gibraltar was on 

 the 1st of November ; the latest was on the 6th of March. 



The best ground for Golden Plover is the vicinity of Tapata- 

 nilla. They always frequent the same places ; and if put up from 

 any spot are almost certain to return in less than an hour. I 

 regret to say that occasionally the Spaniards catch them like 



