THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 
m-6 
Other breeding grounds are the Suweikiyeh marsh, L. Akkai-kuf, marshes 
round Aniara, and doubtless many other places. 
In the Samarra-Tekrit area where less amount of suitable ground is to be found 
it is somewhat local and Pitman thought many moved away from that district 
in winter. 
Six specimens examined : Frontier of Arabistan (Wilson) 9* Hindia Barrage, 
22-3-19 (P. Z. C. and K. E. C.) ; 9> Amara, 30-12-17, (two) 9 Amara' 26-2-18 
(P, A. B.) ; 6, Basra, 19-3-18 (C. B. T.) 
284 Red-wattled Lapwing". Sarcogrammus indicus. 
Sarcogrammus indicus aigneri, Laubm. (Falco 9, p. 10. 1913 — Las 
Belas in Beluchistan), 
It is of considerable interest to find this Lapwing, which is so common and 
familiar to everyone in India, has spread westwards along the Mekran and Persian 
Gulf into Mesopotamia. It is not uncommon, widely distributed and of course 
resident. Unlike the Indian Roller, which has but a limited distribution in our 
area, this Lapwing, which can adapt itself to almost any circumstances compatible 
with a Plover’s hfe, has extended throughout the length and breadth of Meso- 
potamia; from the Karun and Basra districts it may be traced up the Euphrates 
to Feluja and up the Tigris to Tekrit, Samaria and Mosul while it is found out on 
the Persian frontier at Shahroban and Khanikin. The breeding season begins 
in the middle of April and eggs are reported as late as June 6th. The nest un- 
like that of the W^hite-tailed Plover is placed “ high and diy,” generally some 
little distance from water and is a mere scrape after the fashion of its kind, nor 
is it colonial in its nesting habits like the last named, each pair jealously guarding 
its own territory. In ■winter it is subject to local migrations. 
Three specimens examined : 9 Amara, 1-12-17, -wing 229, bill 38 (P.A.B.) ; 
Sheik Saad. 2-11-16 w. 225-5, B. 36, (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) Sheik Saad 
14-12-17, w. 233, B. 38 (Robinson). 
These are not to be distinguished in any way from Baluchi specimens, whence 
came the type of aigneri. 
285. Spur-winged Lapwing. Hoplopterus spinosus. 
Hoplopierus spinosus (L.) (Syst. Xat., 1758, p. 151 — ^Egj'pt). 
Zarudny records this as a rare -winter visitor to the Karun district. Pitman 
seems certain he saw some near Kurna in Januan'. Weigold says he saw it 
apparently breeding at Bambudj and Beredjik just over the Mesopotamian 
boundarj" in Syria. The status of this bird jn Mesopotamia requu-es further 
investigation. 
286. Common Lapwing. Vanellus vanellus. 
Vanellus vanellus (L). (Syst. Nat. 1758, p. 148 — Sweden). 
A -winter visitor in small numbers and widely distributed throughout orrr area. 
It apparently arrives late in the autumn, the first record being on October 22nd 
and the majority do not ari-ive till early November. Buxton, who found it common 
at Amara, noted that it disappeared at the end of February and the latest date 
we have any record of is March 4th. In some marshes it appears to be pretty 
common, but most records refer to small flocks or small numbers. 
Four specimens examined ; — Samarra, 13-12-17 (C. R. P.) ; Tekrit. 9-12-18 
(P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) ; Amara, 27-11-17. 10-12-17 (P. A. B.) 
287. Oyster-catcher. Usematopus ostralegus. 
Hcematopus ostralegus, L. (Syst. Nat., 1758, p. 152 — Sweden). 
The Oyster-catcher is not a very common winter visitor ; small parties may 
be met with on the inundations and mud banks of the Tigris and Euphrates in 
their lower reaches and it was once recorded as far north as Baghdad ; at Fao 
