T8 KOVITATES ZOOLOGICAE XXII. 1915 



The pggs nif.asnro : r)ii-l x 40-8, 51-0 x 40-7, 51-5 x 41-4, and Tils x 40-7 ; 

 52-6 X 30-4, 50-5 x 380, 52 x 38-7, and 49-5 x 37-8 ; 50-8 x 37-7, »0-8 x 39-5, 

 and 50-8 x 40-2 mm. 



The clutch of slightly incubated eggs is beautifully red, the hard-set eggs 

 are brown. 



42. Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus (L). 



Marsh Harriers were imt rare near Biskra in March. In the gizzards and 

 stomachs of two wliich we shot were found parts of a (julUimht cidoropus and a 

 number of frogs. 



43. Circus macrurus (Gm.). 



Harriers were common near Biskra in March and early April, and one or two 

 were seen every day in the Oued N(;a, also at Djamaa, Bledet-Alimar, and Guerrara. 

 The majority were undoubtedly C. macrourus, and those which we shot proved to 

 belong to this species. In the stomachs were found only remains of birds, Pipits, 

 CalandreUa, and other Larks. 



44. Comatibis eremita (L.). 



It is, of course, possible that other breeding-places have existed or may 

 still exist in out-of-the-way places in Algeria, but it seems to be very unlikely, 

 and up to now we are only acquainted with the one nesting-place on the rocks 

 south of Boghari (cf Xoi\ Zool. 1912, p. 540). At Boghari I inquired of the 

 gentleman who sent us a male in 1911, but was told that the birds no longer 

 nested in the old places, which had become much more noisy thau before, as the 

 railway had been built right through these ranges of rocks, and much blasting 

 had taken place ; single birds were seen rarely at intervals, but it would pro- 

 bably be next to impossible to obtain any further specimens. Supposing that 

 these accounts are correct — and I have no reason to doubt them — this would 

 be another instance where civilisation has been instrumental in destroying an 

 old and, to ornithologists, historical breeding-ground of a most interesting and 

 beautiful bird. 



45. Tadoma tadorna (L.). 



Hundreds were observed on April 9 on a salt lake north of Tamerna, between 

 Touggourt and Djamaa. 



46. Anas querquedula L. 



A number were frequenting the Oued Djeddi, near Biskra, during the last 

 days of March. Several observed north of Tamerna, April 9 ; a large flock near 

 Ain-Oassera, May 12. 



47. Erolia ferruginea (Brnnn.), 



48. Erolia minuta minuta (Leisl.), 



and 



49. Erolia temminckii (Leisl.). 



A flock of Sandpipers frequented the little lake near Ain-Oussera on May 11 

 and 12, and out of it I brought down with one shot two E. fen-ugiiiea (= siib- 

 arquata), one E. minuta, and one E. temimnckii. There were only a few small ones 

 {minuta and temminckii), the majority being E. ferniginea. 



