Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun., on the Ornithologij of Algeria. 75 



through the air (except when a momentary rapid beating of the 

 wings is necessary to gather impetus), or hawks in the sunshine 

 for wasps. 



18. Merops si/perciligsus, Linn. Egyptian Bee-eater. 



M. persicus, Pallas. 



On the 21st of April I saw an Egyptian Bee-eater in one of 

 the cemeteries * at Gardaia, which proved to be of this species. 

 I afterwards came upon a flock of them lying upon the large 

 stones which are scattered about wherever there are no gardens. 

 I saw them also on walls, and on the fence-work upon the town- 

 wall ; and returning I found the cemetery, where I had seen the 

 first solitary bird, occupied by about a dozen. They were per- 

 fectly tame; and L thought I had never seen a more interesting 

 sight than these sparkling birds as, one after another, they rose 

 into the air to hawk for insects, and, returning, perched upon a 

 tombstone within a few yards, perhaps, of where I was standing. 

 They have only one note ; it is loud and rather harsh, like the 

 Common Bee-eater's. Their flight is slower, but even more 

 gliding, with the wings very much raised, except when the birds 

 are high in air, when they appear to be more depressed. They 

 almost lie upon stones and walls, as if unable to sit upright on 

 account of their long tails and short legs. The Bee-eaters have 

 a remarkably small brain. 



19. Upupa epops, Linn. Hoopoe. 



It was not until the 13th of March that I noticed a Hoopoe. 

 At the close of that month considerable numbers arrived with 

 other migratory birds. Though four were sometimes seen toge- 

 ther, they were all paired; and it seems probable that most 

 migratoi-y birds pair en route or before leaving their winter 

 quarters, though in some species the males precede the females. 

 When feeding, the bill and crest bear some resemblance to the 

 head of a hammer, as the Hoopoe moves its head up and down with 



* The tombstones in the cemeteries, which are large and numerous in 

 the Mzab country, and generally just outside the walls, consist of imhewn 

 stones stuck on end, and a few white " marabouts." Nearly every tomb 

 is garnished with a row of ui-ns ; and the " marabouts " are sometimes 

 ornamented with ostrich eggs. 



