178 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



however, it is so eagerly sought for that very few chances of 

 breeding are left to it. 



The nest consists simply of a depression of the soil,, mostly 

 scratched out and enlarged by the bird itself, and practically no 

 material whatever is used as a lining. The site chosen is 

 usually in the sulla or corn fields. 



The eggs, often sixteen in number, and sometimes more, are of 

 a creamy-yellow colour, spotted with chocolate and several other 

 shades of brown ; in some specimens the markings are rather 

 minute ; in others, however, they consist of very bold blotches, 

 some of which are of a size as to cover, say, an eighth of the egg. 



Nidification usually commences in March ; I have seen, 

 however, eggs still unhatched in June. 



28. Stone Curlew. 



(Edicnemus scolopax, S. G. Gmel. — Tellerita. 



This bird is one of our common migrants during both 

 passage-seasons, and may be considered also a partial resident, 

 as a few individuals may be met with almost all the year round. 



I must confess that I doubted for a long time about the truth 

 of the statement that this bird is to be considered one of our 

 breeders. On June 26th, 1909, however, a bird in down was 

 brought to me ; it was taken about the barren rocks between 

 "tal Mara" and " Ghar Hassan." On June 2nd, 1911, two 

 freshly-laid eggs were also brought to me ; they were found at 

 '* Gzira," another barren locality in the vicinity of Siggiewi. 



I have never seen a nest, but I have been told that the eggs 

 are simply laid in a depression in the ground, with no material 

 beneath save the bare earth ; and I have been also assured that 

 at '* Marfa " the same spot is used by the birds for nesting year 

 after year. 



In colour the eggs are of a dirty ochre mottled all over with 

 several shades of brown, and having also some very distinct 

 streaks of this colour. 



29. Southern Herring-Gull. 



Larus cachinnans, Pall. — Gawwija prima. 

 This fairly common bird is to be considered as one of our 



