Days' Nesting in Andaliicia. 87 
always turned towards the intruder, and this long before 
eggs are laid. I killed one bird which was nearly white. 
^GIALITIS CANTIANA. 
Common. A set of three eggs was found on April 30th. 
Curiously enough^ these eggs were more incubated than others 
found subsequently. 
Vanellus vulgaris. 
Very common ; nesting on the dry marisma — often in 
company with Redshanks. Fresh eggs were seen on April 
28th. 
Recurvirostra avocetta. 
Abundant. On one little island of particularly dry mud I 
saw a dozen or more nests within a circle of fifteen yards. 
The eggs are taken by the score for eating ; the white is 
transparent when boiled, and they are palatable. 
HiMANTOPUS CANDIDUS. 
Very numerous and more widely distributed than the last 
species, breeding on hard or wet ground; sometimes the nest 
is slightly raised in some low scrub, while there is more 
material in it than is generally the case with the Limicolse. 
When the nesting-places are disturbed the birds shew extreme 
anxiety, flying round and uttering a plaintive cry. Our first 
uest was found on April 30th. 
TOTANUS CALIDRIS. 
Abundant. I once saw a regular flock rise from their nests 
when a Raven came by ; they dashed at him continually, and 
twice made him settle on the ground ; eventually he departed 
down wind, followed by the screaming hosts for some distance. 
Fresh eggs were seen from April 30th. 
Sterna minuta. 
Common, laying on the dry marisma. The first eggs were 
taken on May 13th, but it was not until the 26th that we 
found any number. No nests are made, the eggs being 
placed on the hard ground. One little colony with eight sets 
could have been covered with a tablecloth. Two eggs seem 
to be the usual number, and only once did I see three. 
