296 Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun., on the Ornithology of Algeria. 



113. Pterocles arenarius (Pall.). Sand-Grouse. 

 The north of the Sahara*. 



114. Caccabis petrosa (Gmel). Barbary Partridge. 



A friend of mine and two companions killed upwards of 70 brace 

 of this Partridge in one day in Oran. The bird seems never to be 

 found in the plains, and is almost unknown in the Sahara, where 

 I only saw one pair ; and Dr. Tristram also met with one covey in 

 the Wed W^o.. They pair in February, and feed on the green 

 leaves of plants. The cock weighs nearly \\ lb. ; the hen does 

 not weigh quite 1 lb. ; she has, besides, no knob on the inner side 

 of the tarsus, and the scapulars are much fewer, and the legs a 

 much paler red than in the cock. The eyelids are orange. 



115. CoTURNix COMMUNIS, Bouu. Quail. 



Quails would be more plentiful in Algeria if they were not 

 so much sought after. La chasse is opened from the 20th of 

 March to the 15th of April, principally for their benefit ; and no 

 doubt great numbers are annually killed. I generally found 

 them paired — which surprised me, as they were migrating. 



116. TuRNix SYLVATiCA (Dcsf.). Audalusiau Quail. 



* At the Algiers market. 



117. HouBARA UNDULATA (Bp.). Houbara Bustard. 



The Arabs trapped me several Houbaras, and once a young 

 Gazelle. The traps are placed among plants called " Calpha.^^ 

 The specimens thus obtained varied in weight from 2^ lbs. to 

 upwards of 3^ lbs. The roots of the feathers are a bright pink, as 

 in some specimens of Otis tarda t but I failed to find any trace of 

 the pouch which exists in some males of that species. I brought 

 six eggs home, four of which are now in Prof. Newton's collec- 

 tion. It may be worth mentioning that the English, French, 

 and Arab names for this Bustard are nearly the same. Mr. 

 Drake mentions that " Hobar " is the name for Otis arabs in 

 Morocco (Ibis, 1869, 150) ; and by the natives of India it is given 

 to Otis macqueeni, as I learn from Mr. Marshall. 



118. Otis tetrax, Linn. Little Bustard. 

 French name, Poule de Carthage. 



* The term " Perdrix anglaise " is applied (verj^ erroneously^ by Freuch 

 colouists to the Piu-tailed Sand-Grouse (P. sctarius). 



