An Ornithological Letter from Mentone. 157 
A curious habit of the Zic-zac (though not confined to this 
species, as I have noticed it in several other Waders) is that of 
suddenly jerking up its body whilst on the ground, sometimes 
emitting its cry of “ Zac ! ” at the same time—in fact, looking 
exactly as if afflicted with a violent hiccup. 
The flight of the Spur-winged Plover is strong and vigorous, 
and partakes of the same jerky and energetic character which 
distinguishes this species in all its movements. 
This bird feeds principally upon small aquatic insects and 
mollusks, and, as is usual in birds whose food is of this character 
(and, indeed, in many others), the stomach always contains, 
in addition, a number of stones to assist digestion. 
The irides are deep red ; the beak, feet, and legs black. The 
sexes are alike in plumage, the male being slightly the larger of 
the two. 
I did not find the nest of the Spur-winged Plover; and 
although some eggs of this species were brought to me at 
Damietta, they were so mixed up with those of Himantopus 
melanopterus as to prevent my feeling any degree of certainty 
with regard to them. Several of them correspond with the figure 
given by Dr. Bree in his f Birds of Europebut I am hoping, 
in an approaching campaign in Egypt, to be more successful in 
obtaining authentic specimens. 
[To be continued.] 
XIV .—An Ornithological Letter from Mentone. 
By J. Traherne Moggridge. 
To the Editor of ‘ The Ibis.’ 
Villa Laurenti, Mentone, 
Alpes Maritimes, France, Nov. 28. 
Sir, — I now take advantage of your kind offer of listening 
to the accounts I might send you of birds from time to time. 
I hope that, though such accounts are of necessity desultory and 
disconnected, there may yet be some facts gathered from them 
ultimately. The day after I had the pleasure of seeing you in 
London I left England, and the next day found us in Paris. On 
