( •'^13 ) 



is probably an exceptionally long-winged individaal. Its tnil measures only 

 lOT'S mm., and is thus shorter than in mauritanicus. 



Unfortunately we omitted to shoot Blackbirds near Batna and Lambese, so 

 that we are not sure which of the forms it is that frequents those districts. 



We found eggs in May. A clutch of three was already incubated. 



9!1. Monticola solitarius solitarius (L.). 

 (Maiiticola c;/aiius auct.) 



Breeds evidently from North Algeria to Batna. It is also seen in February 

 and March at EI Kantara, and in the oasis of Onmash ; in these latter places, 

 however, it keeps mostly to the villages, and we doubt if it nests there. 



A few were seen near Hammam Meskoutiue and Biskra in February, ami a 

 male shot at the former place February 12, 1911. 



liiO. Monticola saxatilis (L.). 



Rock Thrushes breed in Northern Algeria, and pass through the oases of the 

 desert on migration. We shot them at EI Oued (April 8, 190U), and in the desert 

 between that town and Touggourt on April 6, 1909. 



They breed, among other places, at an altitude of about 2000 m. on Djebel 

 Mahmel, where we sbot a fine male on May 12. It was undoubtedly breeding 

 there. The wing, very much worn as it is, measures 122 mm., while the 

 migratory male has a much longer wing. These differences, however, are probably 

 individual ones. 



101. Oenanthe oenanthe oenanthe (L.).* 



{Saxicolii ofiKi/it/ie auct.) 



The Commiin Wheatear is a common migrant in Algeria, passing through the 

 country in March and April. We observed and obtained specimens at Biskra and 

 between Biskra and Touggourt, and at Touggourt on April 1. At El Kantara one 

 was shot as late as May 3, which did not belong to the large race. 



102. Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa (Gm.). 



Cf. Hartert, Vog. pal. Fuiitm i. p. 681. 



We shot a male at Biskra, March 22, 1908, which we do not in the least 

 hesitate to regard as belonging to the big Greenland form of the Wheatear. 

 We also saw a specimen shot by Mr. Steiubach which seemed to belong to 

 this race. 



103. Oenanthe oenanthe seebohmi (Dixon). 



Of. Hartert, Vog. pal. Fauna i. p. 682. 



This bird, which differs from 0. oenanthe oenanthe by being lighter on the 

 upperside, and by the male having a black throat — though not very rarely single 

 white feathers are seen in the latter — is not rare on the Djebel Mahmel in the 

 Aures Mountains, where it was discovered by Messrs. Dixon and Elwes in 1882, 

 though they failed to recognise it as anything rare or new, and shot only two males ! 

 Professor Koenig was the first to discover the female, more than ten years later. 

 Doubtless this very interesting Wheatear occurs on many high mountains of the 



* About the generic name of the Wheatears and Chats see Mathews, Nov. Zool. 1911, p. 20. His 

 conclusions, we are sorry to say, are perfectly correct, and must be accepted, 



