( 525 ) 



golden-yellow tinge, which makes the whole pluma'^e appear yellowish green when 

 held away from the light ; the blue is only visible^ in worn breeding (ihimage ; the 

 underside is lighter green ; the bill is slenderer ; the middle rectrices are much 

 more elongated ; under the eye in M. persiaiis persicus there is a distinct white line, 

 which in M. persicus chri/socercus is only indicated, or even entirely absent. 



This form breeds in great numbers along the banks of the rivers or river-beds 

 in the Northern Sahara, south of Biskra, and probably in other parts of the desert. 

 We have seen and collected it as far south as Temacin, south of Tonggourt (April 3, 

 1900), and Rothschild saw a flock at Tilrhempt, between Ghardaia and Laghouat. 

 Skins were shown to us in Laghonat. It is rare in Sontli Tunisia, and winters 

 south of tlie Sahara, on Lake Chad and on the Senegal. 



This Bee-eater is in onr opinion one of the loveliest birds we ever saw alwe, m 

 Algeria. Its colours are not so gay as those of Merops apiaster, but much more 

 delicate and harmonious. 



To be camped at an oasis, where hundreds sleeji for the night on the palm-trees, 

 is an experience never to be forgotten. 



The call-note is the same as that of M. apiaster, only a little shorter and 

 softer. 



The j)late shows an adult male in fresh autumn plumage shot by Boyd Alexander 

 on Lake Chad, October 31, 1004, and a head of a male obtained 50 kilometres south 

 of Biskra, April 19, 1909, as well as a M. p. persicus collected by Zarudny in 

 S.E. Persia. 



136. Upupa epops epops L. 



We cannot separate the N.W. African Hoopoes from the European form. There 

 is, however, much individual variation. 



The Hoopoe is a migrant even in Algeria, appearing in the s[iring early in March. 

 None seem to stay throughout the winter, and many of the arrivals pass on to 

 Europe, while others remain to breed, probably from the Northern Sahara up to 

 the seashore. 



A female shot on March 8 had the body-plumage still moulting. 



137. Coracias garrulus garrulus L. 



The Roller jjasses through Algeria in April (Biskra, Tilrhempt, Lighouat), and 

 nests near Batna, Lambfese, and at the foot of Mount Mahmel, and doubtless in 

 many other localities in Northern Algeria. 



138. Alcedo ispida pallida Brehm. 



The Kingfisher nests iu Algeria from the northern Atlas to Biskra, but it is 

 everywhere rare, and at least as shy as, if not more so than, anywhere iu Europe. 



This form is spread from Morocco to Syria. It only difters from .4. ispida 

 ispida by the beak, which averages slightly slenderer and is often more elongated, 

 and somewhat shorter head-feathers, and in many specimens the abdomen is paler. 

 (See the forthcoming vol. ii. of Vog. d. pal. Fauna, p. 882.) 



139. Pious vaillantii (Malh.) 



We found the Algerian Green Woodpecker iu the oik-wooils above Lamb&se 

 and It.itna, where it was not very rare, and noticed it in the o:ik-wooil on the slopes 

 of Mount Taya east of Constantine, as well as very sparingly on old oaks about four 



