Mr. J. 11. Gurney, Jun., on the Ornithology of Algeria. 295 



110. CoLUMBA LI VIA, Linu. Rock-Dove. 



Common in the Mzab, and very easy to shoot, and not nearly 

 so diflScult to skin as some Pigeons. I almost invariably ob- 

 served them in pairs on the rocks close to the gardens, but not 

 actually in the Palm trees, where all the Doves were. I observed 

 some dark-coloured varieties among these Clifl-pigeons at Bo- 

 ghari, doubtless caused by domestic ones which had wandered 

 away to breed with them. One specimen was shot which, in 

 the colour of the lower part of the back, approximated to Co- 

 lumba schimperi. It was probably the variety which is included 

 in the 'Exploration Sc. d'Algerie,' ii. p. Ill, under the title of 

 Columba turricola (Bonap.). 



111. TuRTUR AURiTUs. Turtlcdovc. 



I found this Dove associating with the next species, but not 

 so numerous ; perhaps it was only on passage. 



112. TuRTUR ^GYPTiACus (Tcmm.) . Egyptian Turtledove. 

 The Egyptian Turtledove swarmed in the Palm-gardens at 



Gardaia. Six were sometimes in the crest of one Palm. There 

 were many also in the town, upon the flat roofs of the houses. 

 They have a stiff-necked appearance, from never looking in any 

 direction but downwards. Perhaps from constantly sitting in 

 the underpart of the crest of the Palm they have acquired a 

 habit of always pointing their bills to the earth. They gene- 

 rally sit as close to the stem as possible. They did not appear 

 to me to be in pairs. The natives do not molest them, although 

 they eat their corn — not because Pigeons are sacred, as in some 

 countries (Russia, for instance), but because they do not think 

 them worth powder and shot. When their crops have become 

 distended with food, their flight is shghtly heavy ; yet it always 

 is graceful ; and when high in air, it is as rapid, direct, and power- 

 ful as that of the most migratory of its congeners. In merely 

 passing from one house to another, it gathers impetus to ascend 

 two or three feet after its wings have ceased to move (which is 

 always before alighting). This Turtledove coos but little, and 

 not loudly, swelling out the feathers of the breast in the usual 

 way. The iris consists of two circles — one brown, the other 

 speckled grey. 



