Birds. 5607 



three together: I only shot six or seven during the whole season. 

 They may possibly be more numerous than they appear to be, from 

 the difficulty of finding them, as they delight in rocky mountain-sides, 

 among palmetto bushes. 



Sand Grouse (Pterocles arenarius). Common, as I learned from 

 Fevier, of Tangier, in the South of Spain ; also very numerous in 

 North Africa, from which locality I possess a specimen. 



The Great Bustard {Otis tarda) and Little Bustard (Otis tetrax) are 

 still numerous (or said to be so) in many parts of the province. I never 

 had the good fortune to meet with one. 



Stone Curlew (CEdicnemus crepitans). Occasionally met with. 



Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis). Seen in small flocks during 

 the winter, but only occasionally. 



Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) and Little Ringed Plover 

 {Charadrius minor). Were both numerous, and breed in the salt 

 marshes. I saw some young of the former as early as May; they 

 were unable to fly, but ran on the sand with amazing rapidity : 

 I caught one, and the old bird, which at first did all in her power to 

 mislead me by feigning lameness, &c.,on my capturing her offspring, 

 flew round me so closely as almost to touch me : after I had satisfied 

 my curiosity in examining the downy little creature I released it, 

 much to the joy of the parent. I may add that I only saw one old 

 bird with the young ones, two or three in number. 



Lapwing ( Vanellus cristatus). Common during the winter. 



Heron (Ardea cinerea). Common in the marshes round the Cartrian 

 Hills, during the winter ; as also was the bittern (Ardea stellaris). 



The Squacco Heron (Ardea ralloides) and Night Heron (Nycticorax 

 ardeola) are both to be met with in the country. I obtained fine 

 specimens of each, killed on the African side of the Straits. 



Curlew (Numenius arquata). Common during the winter, as also 

 the redshank (Totanus calidris). 



Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), Common Snipe (Scolopax gallinago), 

 and Jack Snipe (Scolopax gallinula), were all met with, at times 

 plentifully, during the winter. 



Spotted Crake (Gallinula porzana). This elegant bird was very 

 numerous in the marshes in winter. 



Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus). Frequently met with, but not so 

 numerous as the former. 



Red Flamingo (Phcenicopterus roseus). Flocks of from ten to 

 twenty of this magnificent (and in Barbary still sacred) bird cross the 

 Straits in spring. I obtained two very fine specimens, beautifully 

 shaded with red on the neck and breast, being, I conclude, old males 



