( 4:fi ) 



and Batiia. Nests were f'onud ou Aleppo pines near Algiers and Batna, and in 

 olive-trees near Hammam Meskoutine from the first week of May till the middle 

 of that mouth. 



The eggs measure as follows: clutch of five: 28 x 15, 22'3 x 15'2, 22 x 15, 

 23-0 X 15-2, and 23 x loo; clutch of four: 208 x 14-9, 205 x 14-8, 20-3 x 141, 

 and 19-8 x 14 : another clutch of four : 212 x 148, 198 x 14-8, 20o x 149, and 

 207 X lo mm. All the eggs are rather pointed. 



The wings of our adult males measure 8o-8!) mm. 



Iris brown. Feet brownish flesh-colour. Bill brownish flesh-colour, lower 

 mandible whitish. 



12. Carduelis carduelis africanus (Hart.) 



Aninlhis nirdaelis nfriaiiiiix Hartcrt, Viitj. pid. Fniina i. p. (i',1 (Spain and X.W. Africa; type: 

 W. Morocco). 



The Goldfinch of N.W. Africa is so closely allied to the one from Madeira, 

 that it cannot be said to differ from the latter except by the generally larger bill, 

 the culmeu measuring up to 16'1 mm. The colour-diflFerences supposed to e.xist 

 between the two forms are not constant, these birds dilfering much according to 

 season; the appearance of the white nuchal patch is a very uncertain character, 

 as it depends a good deal on the preparation. The size of the N.W. African 

 form is about the same as that of the Madeirau form, our present fine series 

 showing that the latter are not constantly smaller. The bill in africanus is 

 generally larger and thicker at base, but single specimens are found in which 

 this character is not visible, and perhaps Moroccan birds have the bills — as a 

 rule — somewhat thicker. 



The Goldfinch is common an<l breeds from Algiers town and Bone in the north 

 to Laghouat and El Kantara, where we obtained eggs ; we have seen it at Biskra, 

 as late as the end of April, and it undoubtedly breeds at Biskra as well. South 

 of Biskra and of Laghouat we have not seen a specimen. 



The wings in our series of males measure about 74-77, in a male from Seksawa 

 in the Atlas in S.W. Morocco (Biggenbach) even 80 mm. 



13. Carduelis cannabina nana (Tschusi). 



The small North-West-African form of the Linnet — differing only in its shorter 

 wings, while the beak is, on the contrary, inclined to be large — is very common 

 from the sea-shore to Biskra. It breeds near El Kantara, and probably also at 

 Biskra, but not farther south. We found it not rare at Boghari, but did not see 

 it at Laghouat or farther south. The wings of our Algerian males measure 

 75-76'5 mm. 



Flocks of Linnets are seen in winter, and these are said to be northern migrants. 

 We have no doubt that this is unite, or at least partially, correct, because an adult 

 male shot in the palm-groves of the oasis of Biskra, on February 22, 1908 (No. 12), 

 has a wing of fnlly ><o o mm., and mnst belong to the northern Carduelis cannabina 

 caimubinii. 



14. Carduelis spinus (L.). 



This bird, which is probably not a regular winter visitant to Algeria, was 

 common at Hammam Meskoutine in February lull. On the 8th, while having 

 our luncheon in the new restaurant, we saw a flock feeding ou the grass outside 



