560 



6 



(Ibis, 1865, p. 466) as follows: — "As every record of rare visitors is interesting, I may here 

 mention that an adult male and female, in breeding-plumage, of this species were shot on Fort- 

 Manoel Island in the third week of May, and later in the same month three others were 

 exhibited for sale in the market." Lord Lilford only once met with it in Greek waters, when 

 on the way to Antivari on board H.M.S. 'Ariel' in December 1857; and both Von der Miihle 

 and Lindermayer state that it is met with on the shores of Greece only during the two seasons 

 of migration, and is very rare. The latter says that it does not occur on the islands of the 

 Archipelago. I may here name that, according to Dr. A. Fritsch (J. f. O. 1871, p. 385) speci- 

 mens, which are now in Feldegg's collection, are said to have been killed in Bohemia. Messrs. 

 Elwes and Buckley write (Ibis, 1870, p. 330) that it is occasionally seen on the coasts of Turkey ; 

 and Von Nordmann states that it is met with in pairs or small flocks on the shores of the Black 

 Sea in April, and again in October. Eversmann speaks of it as being common on the shores of 

 the Caspian ; and it doubtless visits the shores of Asia Minor and Palestine. 



In North-east Africa it is common ; and Von Heuglin (Orn. N.O.-Afr. p. 1038) writes, " in 

 the winter season it is found all along the coast of Egypt, where we have shot it in summer 

 plumage in May. On the shores of the Red Sea it is commoner ; and I feel sure that it breeds 

 there. In July 1857 I observed it in pairs on the small coral islands in the vicinity Of Sanakin, 

 and in September saw young and old birds at Ras Belul (in 10° 30' N. lat.) — in October, 

 November, and December in flocks in various portions of the east coast of Africa, southwards 



to Zela and Berbera We never saw it in the interior ; but Vierthaler observed it on the 



White Nile." On the western coast of North Africa it also occurs ; and is stated by Loche to 



occur in Algeria during the two seasons of migration. Drs. Reichenow and Liihder did not 



meet with it on the west coast of Africa, and remark (J. f. O. 1873, p. 212) that it is somewhat 



curious that it was not observed there. It occurs on the Canaries and Azores. Vernon Harcourt 



records it from Madeira; and Mr. F. DuCane Godman writes (Ibis, 1866, p. 100) that "a few 



pairs are always to be found about the rocks between Santa Cruz and Ponta Delgada, in Flores. 



I killed some specimens in June in full breeding-plumage, and I suspect that it must breed on 



some of the small islands near the coast ; but the weather was so stormy all the time I was in 



Flores, that I was unable to get out to them. It is said to remain there the whole year. I 



afterwards saw eight birds of this species near Capellas, in Fayal ; and I believe a few are to be 



found on the coast of any of the islands where the rocks provide sufficient protection from the 



surf." And again (Ibis, 1872, p. 221) he says, " this bird undoubtedly breeds in Flores, in the 



Azores, and, I think, probably, in the Canaries, where it is not uncommon in suitable places on 



the coast. As there is but little beach or low rocky coast, it finds but few places adapted to its 



habits. Webb and Berthelot consider its appearance only accidental." Dr. Carl Bolle, writing 



on the ornithology of the Canaries, says (J. f. O. 1857, p. 336), "according to my experience it is 



in these districts a not very common, but constant inhabitor of the shores where the coast is fiat 



and covered with small stones. Not only in Fuerteventura, but also on the coast of Canaria, near 



Maspalomas, I observed it in pairs, and am quite positive that it breeds there." 



On the mainland of Africa it is met with as far south as the Cape of Good Hope. Pel 

 records it from the Gold Coast, Verreaux from the Gaboon, Welwitsch from Angola, Anchieta 

 from Benguela; and Mr Andersson states (B. of Damara Land, p. 276), it "is pretty common 



