Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jan., on the Ornithology of Algeria. 289 



with a species of large parasite of the family of the Ornithomyi^, 

 of a dirty green colour. We were never able to study the pro- 

 pagation of this bird ; but while in Mayotte we saw an individual 

 make a nest of rushes in the hole of a great 'Badamier* {Ter- 

 minalia cappa) . These birds when they cry puflF out the throat 

 so that this portion of the body has the appearance of a pendent 

 bag. When wounded they erect the feathers of the forehead and 

 ears as well as those of the throat, all the while distributing 

 well-aimed blows with the beak. The Cyrombo plays a great 

 part in the chants and religious recitations of the Malagash 

 natives. The French colonists of Mayotte call this bird the 

 ' Parrot.' It is common at Madagascar and Mayotte, and has, 



XXIII. — On the Ornithology of Algeria. 

 By J. H. GuRNEY, Jun., F.Z.S. 



[Concluded from page 86.] 



79. Melanocorypha calandra (Linn.). Calandra Lark. 

 Occurs in large flocks up to the middle of March. This 



species is very common at Ain-Oussera and Bougzoul ; but I 

 never met with any among the Larks in the Algiers market. 

 It is quite unknown in the Mzab. The underside of the wing, 

 which in the Crested Lark is pink, is black in the Calandra; 

 and this, joined to its large size, renders it conspicuous wherever 

 it is found. 



80. Calandrellabrachydactyla (Leisl.). Short-toed Lark. 

 Once seen at Laghouat. 



81. Calandrella reboudia, Loche. Reboud's Lark. 

 Common in flocks about Ain-Oussera. 



82. Ammomaneslusitanica (Gmel.): A. isabel Una (Tcmm.). 

 Desert-Lark. 



At Laghouat and thence as far as Gardaia this inconspicuous 

 bird was met with on bare stony plains, where one would only 

 expect to find Chats, and less commonly on hill-sides. Its 



