( 520 ) 



busy with other work that we only obtained one male. This certainly bears ont 

 the peculiarities of the race described by Mr. Kleinscbmidt, but this form requires 

 further attention. Mr. Witlierby found it breeding near Hamniara Meskontine. 

 but unfortunately we did not come across it either there or anywhere else in the 

 Northern Atlas. 



110. Diplootocus moussieri (Olphe-Gallianl). 



(Cf. Hartert, I'mj.jHil. Fuima i. p. I'.'A.) 



Moussier's Redstart breeds in the Atlas Mountains, and in winter is iouiul iji 

 the Northern Sahara. We only found it during the breeding season in tln' 

 Southern Atlas ranges, near Batna and Larabese, at the foot of the Djebel Mahiud 

 and up the latter to an elevation of about 1800 or 1900 m. We did not see it 

 anywhere in the nortli, neither near Hammam Meskoutiue, on Djebel Taya, nor at 

 Ham mam R'hira and Algiers town, but Mr. FJiickiger met with it not unfrequently 

 near Kerrata in North Algeria. 



A nest with four slightly incubated eggs of the rich blue variety was fonnd 

 near Lambese on May 5, 19Ui), under a small bush, ou the ground. It consisted 

 of small rootlets and stalks, and was richly lined with hair and feathers. 



Dresser, in his " Manual," followed Koenig in placing this species in the 

 genus " Prutincola " (rectius Saxicola). This is a great mistake. Ou account 

 iif its short tail and other jieculiarities it is best kept in a special genus, but it 

 is nearest to P/ioeiiicurus. In structure, coloration, and eggs it is a Redstart, 

 in habits it is a mi.xture of a Redstart and IStonechat. 



117. Luscinia megarhynchos Brehm. 



Nightingales do not winter in Algeria, but they pass through on migration 

 in some numbers, and nest in great quantities in the Atlas, from the coast 

 region to the Anres mountains (Lambese). Among the hills near Algiers, and 

 at Lambese, the song of many males may be heard in the evening, and they 

 are wonderfully common near Medea and at Hammam Meskoutine, and are also 

 fonnd at Hammam R'hira. Ou May 10 and May 28 slightly incubated clutches 

 of four eggs each were found at Algiers and Hammam Meskoutine. The 

 eggs measure: 21 x 16, 20-1 x 15-5, 205 x 15-5, 21-U x 10, and 21-0 x 10, 

 21-7 X 10, 22 X 10, 21-5 x 10 mm. 



Hartert has discussed the Algerian form of the Nightingale in his book, vol. i., 

 p. 7134. We still feel that it would be too risky to name it, though recently the 

 late Dr. Parrot has separated the Corsican race on very slight grounds. 



118. Luscinia svecica cyauecula (Wolf). 



Bliictliroats arc not very rare on jiassage, though far from common, ne.-ir 

 Biskra, late in Febnuiry and throughout the moiith of March. Two males belong 

 undoubtedly to the white-throated form, and so does evidently a female shot ou 

 February 27. 



Another female shot March 18 has a less developed black jugular crescent 

 and is much more yellowish buff on the under-surface. It might possibly belong to 

 another race, but female BIncthroats are too variable, and the ditl'erences between 

 the females of the xurious forms too uncertain to come to any definite conclusion 

 from a single female. 



