Birds of Gran Canaria. 565 



^'Charco^^ must become a veritable lake and a paradise for 

 water-birds. 



T was surprised to find a cou])lc of Snipes fi'equeuting tlie 

 marsh, Herr von Thanner presumably did not meet with 

 the species. Ducks were peculiarly scarce, and in ten 

 days I only saw a single example, which was obtained 

 and proved to be the Marbled Duck [Anas marmorata). 

 ]Mr. Pittard, who shot this specimen, assures me that he has 

 seen other ducks obtained here which certainly did not 

 belong to this species, A single Hercui frequented the sea- 

 shore and reed-beds in turn, and llerr von Thanner, who 

 camped in the Charco in February 1910, mentions a youiig 

 one which was caught there. Just round tlie Point of ]\las- 

 palomas, where the beach is stony, I shot two Grey Plovers 

 out of a small flock feeding at the water's edge ; Turnstones 

 Avere also noticed on the rocks near by, and here I also saw a 

 single Godwit — a bird which has not hitherto been recorded 

 from Gran Canaria so far as I am aware. Doubtless at other 

 seasons of the year numerous Waders of various species call 

 here on migration ; lack of observers is probably the only 

 reason that so few Charadriidie have as yet been recorded 

 from this island. 



The " Charco '^ is also a favourite resort of several species 

 of land-birds, Avhich appear to be entirely isolated from the 

 rest of the island. Of these the Black-headed Warbler 

 [Sylvia melanocephaJa) is perhaps the most interesting; 

 Chifl'chaffs were often noticed on the tamarisk-bushes ; and 

 two Shrikes (Laiiius ewcubitor koenigi) frequented the flat 

 groiuul behind my tent. In the evenings several Hoopoes 

 made their appearance, flying into the '^Charco" I'roni the 

 direction of Maspalomas village. The little Black Swift 

 [CypseJus uiiicolor) and ]\lartins (probably Chclidun urbica^ 

 were occasionally noted, but always in small numbers. From 

 the account Avhich Herr von Thanner gave of his visit to this 

 spot I certainly expected to see several Coots and ISloorhcns, 

 but they were rcmarkabl)^ scai'ce, and although the lagoons 

 and pools are admirably suited to their Mants, I only once 

 caught a fleeting glimpse of one of these birds, and even then 

 was not sure to which species it belonged. Certainly it is 



