496 



Mr. Kobson, who sent the present species to me under the name of JEgialitis hiaticula, 

 informs me that " it is a constant resident in European Turkey. They have many breeding- 

 stations on the coast of the Black Sea, both on the European and Asiatic seaboard, in situations 

 where valleys debouch towards the ocean, their wide fronts covered with sand and pebbles, with 

 shallow streams of fresh water trickling over a narrow surface towards the beach. In natural 

 cavities in the shingle these birds lay their eggs ; and in the shallow streams near the sea they 

 find their food, water-beetles and the larvae of insects that come down from the mountains in 

 numerous small streams that unite as they near the coast. The colour of this species resembles 

 so nearly the appearance of the locality it inhabits that it is difficult for the untutored eye to 

 detect it sitting. On its eggs being approached by man it steals off a short distance, curves its 

 head and tail downwards, and runs in irregular lines, much like a small animal, to decoy the 

 intruder away from its eggs, which result being accomplished it rises into the air, making a 

 distant whirl, uttering its piping cry, and, gradually lessening the circuit of its flight, alights on 

 the sands and waits a favourable opportunity for returning to its eggs. It is lively and active, 

 and runs with much speed on the sands." 



Its food consists, like that of yEgialitis hiaticula, of small water-insects and worms, and 

 never of vegetable substances. It frequently turns over the stones in search of the small insects 

 which are found underneath. 



The specimens figured are the adult and young birds above described. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. E. E. Dresser. 



a. Hvalo, Norway (Collett). b, 5. Ekaterinburg, Russia, June 16th, 1868 {L. Sabandeff}. c, $ . Casa Vieja, 

 Spain, May 14th, 1874 {Col. Irby) . d. Malta, April 4th, 1868 (C. A. Wright), e. Switzerland {Moschler). 

 f. Khatkane, Turkey, April 6th, 1870 (Robsori). g, 6 , h, ? . White's spring, near Constantinople, June 

 3rd, 1871. i, 6 . Kalagan, Baluckistan, March 19th, 1872 (TV. T. Blanford). k, 6 . Secunderabad, 

 November 1st, 1869 (G. M. Slaughter). 



E Mus. B. Swinhoe. 



a, s. Sartcky, Mongolia, May 9tk, 1866. b. India, c, d. Amoy, 1861. e, <5,f, ?. Skangkai, May 1873 

 {R.S.). g. Hongkong, April 1860 (R. S.) . h. Hongkong, autumn (R. S.). i. Hainan, February 1868 

 {R. S.). k. S.W. Formosa, 1861 {R. S.). 



E Mus. Howard Saunders. 



a, (j, b, $. River Genii, Granada, October, c, 6 . Seville, August, d, 6 juv. Seville July 25th. e,f, 2juv. 

 Malaga, July 30tk and October 8tk. 



E Mus. C. A. Wright. 



a. Malta (C. A. W.). b. Malta, March 1869 (C. A. W.) . c. Malta, April 20th, 1869 (C. A. W.) . d,<3. Mai a, 

 May 6th, 1869 (C. A. W.) . e, $ . Malta, May 4th, 1871 (C. A. W.) . /, ? . Malta, May 1871 (C. A. W.) . 

 . g,6. Malta, May 13th, 1874 (C. A. TV.). 



