THE BIRDS OF ALGERIA. 27 



creased during winter. Intermediate forms between 

 this Stone Curlew and the Indian Stone Curlew, 

 (JL. crepitans indicus, Salvadori, are said to occur in 

 North Africa " from Morocco to Egypt." [Seebulnn.) 



93. The Great Bustard Otis tarda, Linnaais, 

 probably does not now breed anywhere in Algeria — 

 certainly information of the fact is wanting — and is 

 only known as a rare straggler in winter. 



94. The Little Bustard Otis tetrax, Linnaeus, is 

 a common and widely distributed species, breeding 

 in the north and retiring for the most ])art to the 

 Sahara in winter. Taczanowski describes it as in- 

 habiting the plateaux of the Atlas ; Canon Tristram 

 only met with it in the north, on the outskirts of 

 cultivation, 



95. The HouBARA Bustard 0/'/.v?^.;/r/?;/(7/«(Jacquin), 

 is a resident in Algeria, said by Taczanowski to be 

 not rare in the desert and on the adjoining plateaux. 

 Canon Tristram met with it in the Central Sahara, 

 and states that it was most abundant near dayats. 



96. The Common Crane Gr^is commiuiis, Bech- 

 stein, is a regular winter visitor to Algeria. 



97. The Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo (Lin- 

 nfrus), is a resident in Algeria, breeding locally 

 in suitable marshes. Taczanowski met WTth this 

 species in the desert near Biskra, probably in winter. 



