512 



6 



met with from the autumn to the spring. Doderlein states that it is very rare in the district of 

 Modena; and in Sicily it is never very abundant, and remains but for a short time during 

 passage. In Malta, Mr. C. A. Wright remarks, though common in October and November 

 during the autumn passage, it is but rarely met with in the spring ; and Captain Feilden, who 

 is at present in that island, writes to me as follows : — " I have come to no satisfactory conclusion 

 why this bird should be abundant in Malta during the autumnal, and very rare during the 

 vernal migration. Indeed I have not yet come across it at the latter season. In the fall, Malta 

 appears to be a favourite resting-place for this species when crossing to Africa. My note-book 

 gives the 23rd of August as the earliest date on which I observed it, and the 11th December the 

 latest. During the commencement of November 1873, this species appeared very plentiful in 

 the Valetta market, its numbers culminating on the 8th of that month, when more than one 

 hundred were exposed for sale. Many Dotterels killed here during the early part of the autumn 

 passage retain traces of the breeding-plumage. On the 17th September, 1874, my attention was 

 attracted to an example conspicuous by the chestnut-colour of its underparts, nearly as rich as in 

 specimens I have procured in breeding-plumage." In Southern Germany, curiously enough, it 

 remains to breed in the mountain districts. The Bitter von Tschusi-Schmidhofen writes to me 

 that "its distribution in Austria is peculiar. It breeds not only in the Biesengebirge and Styria, 

 but also in Siebenbiirgen. Bielz met with it on the 28th of June, 1863, in the Zibins Mountain 

 on a small moor near the highest point of the Csindrell, about 7000 feet above the sea. The 

 male was shot, and two young birds about fourteen days old caught alive; but the female 

 escaped. All three are in the Hermannstadt Museum." He also points out (J. f. O. 1870, 

 p. 272) that Pastor Hanf found it breeding in the most elevated portions of the Weit-Seethaler 

 and Judenburger Alps, in Styria, and himself caught a young one there, and also in 1862 took 

 three eggs. In the 'Journal fur Orn.' 1869, p. 231, he states that the foresters told him that it 

 used to be common on the Weisse Wiese and Brunnberg, and flocks of thirteen to fifteen 

 individuals used to be seen, but it is rapidly decreasing in numbers. In 1865 Herr von 

 Homeyer killed a specimen, and obtained a nest on the Bennerbaude. Dr. Fritsch states 

 (J. f. O. 1871, p. 383) that it is met with throughout Bohemia during the autumn migration; 

 and he met with it in September 1851 near Schlan. I have seen it in Wallachia in the early 

 spring, and have specimens from the neighbourhood obtained in April and November. In 

 Greece it is met with but very rarely during passage ; and Von der Miihle states that he only 

 once met with it, having found six immature specimens exposed for sale in October 1836. It 

 appears to pass further to the eastward during its passage ; for Canon Tristram met with it 

 commonly in Palestine, and writes (Ibis, 1868, p. 323) respecting this species and its allies as 

 follows :— " No description can give any idea of the continuous flocks which overspread the 

 whole of the southern wilderness during three days' ride from the Arabah to Beersheba. Hour 

 after hour the birds ran almost among our horses' feet; and we shot as many as we required for 

 the day's provision within half an hour. There were about ten of the common Dotterel for one 

 of the other species ; but all seemed mingled indiscriminately. .... The myriads of Helices, 

 clustering on all the bushes and on every straw, till the whole looked like a sheet of white 

 blossom, no doubt provided sustenance for all." The winter abode of this bird appears to be 

 the north of Africa, on the east extending down the western shores of the Bed Sea, according 



