( 537 ) 

 102. Accipiter nisus punicus Eri. 



Acripiler tiinnn pimiriis. Erlanger. Jimrn.f. Orn. 1898, p. 4'29, 



We have not a sufficient series to be able to speak aiitlioritativeiy on the 

 poiiit (if difference between A. nisua nisus and punicus, but it seems that the latter 

 is a jialer race which must be separated. 



The Sparrow-ljawk is common in tiie woods of North Algeria, and we saw it 

 nut iiiCrequently near Hammam R'hira. A juvenile male with brown npperside 

 with a few Idne-grey feathers was shot near Lambese on May 8, 1900. 



103. Circaetus gallicus (Gm.) 



The Short-toed Eagle is not rare in Algeria from tlie Northern Atlas to Biskra 

 and Laghouat. 



We found two nests. The first on tiie Djebel Bou Ghezal, near Biskra, on 

 April 24, 1909. The nest stood on a steep and high clift", and was placed on ' 

 the top of a Ziztiphus-\mi\\ about three feet high. It was a large platform of 

 dead brandies, laid out with green twigs of Tjimoiiiastnim and otlier desert plants. 

 It, contained a single hard-set egg of the nsnal type. Another nest was found in 

 the monntain forest near Hammam R'hira. It was placed on the side of a steep 

 ravine, rather difficult of access, on a branch of a Piiui.s halcpeiiais, quite a 

 distan(-e from the stem. It contained, on May 21, a snow-white downy young 

 one, evidently only a day or two old. 



We have freijuently seen these Eagles near Hammam H'liira, Hammam 

 Meskoutiae, Batna, Blidah, and in the Gorge de Ghiffa. On a sunny morning 

 tlie jiair often soar above the wood, where the nest stands, fre(inentiy uttering 

 their loud long-drawn mewing, and occasional!}' a shorter note, resembling that 

 of a small high-voiced dog, but the usual notes are not in the le.ist ''harsh," 

 though rather loud. 



Snakes of various kinds are really the favourite food of the '■ Suake-E igle," as 

 it is called in German, and we found rennxins of tliem in their nests and stomachs. 



104. Falco subbuteo jugurtha Hart & Neum. 



Falco subhiiteo jiir/urlka Hartert ;ind Neumann, /««/■«. /'. Oni. l'.K)7. p. 591 (Morocco, Alijeria, 



Tunisia). 

 Fiilcii Huhluteu gracilis (non Brehm !) Erlanger, Jimrn.f. 'Irii. 18'JH. p. 4i')l, pis. x., .\i. 



The Algerian r«,ce of the Hobby is paler on the npperside, has narrower 

 sfriations on the breast and abdomen and a lighter forehead than /•'. siihbiiti'O 

 .<ii(ljljiiteo. The monstacliial stripe is also narrower. 



We saw the Hobby in May at Batna and at the foot of Djebel Mahmel, but 

 unfortunately had no chance of shooting it. There they must have been on their 

 breeding-grounds, but it is a question whether they stay through the winter, for 

 we met them, apparently on passage, in May at Laglionat and in the dayats. 

 The three we obtained at Tilrhempt and Laghouat belong to the North African 

 form. 



105. Falco naumanni naumanni Fleiscli. 



(^Fdlco cencltris ant.). 



The Lesser Kestrel nests alinndantly in the stnjiendous gorge of the 

 lUimmel in Coustantiue. It is a wonderful sight to watch these jiretty Falcons 



