Mr. J, H. Gurney, Jun., on the Ornithologtj of Algeria. 297 



These Bustards fly slowly, with outstretched necks and wings 

 bent upwards, very unlike the last species. 



119. Grus cinerea, Bechst. Crane. 



One evening at Bougzoul, as I was driving with the mas- 

 ter of the caravanserai, we saw eight Cranes marching abreast 

 across the plain in the grey twilight. We guided the cart 

 nearly to within gunshot, when they all ran together, with 

 their heads up, and, without uttering any call, slowly sailed 

 away, to seek safer quarters in the adjoining marsh. 



120. Ardea bubulcus, Sav. BufF-backed Heron. 



Only one was observed in the Sahara ; but at Oued el Alleg 

 upwards of forty were feeding among the cattle. It being 

 February, none of them had buff backs, and at a distance they 

 might have been taken for tame Pigeons. The cows seemed to 

 regard them as the crocodiles of Egypt are said to regard 

 Charadrius melanocephalus, of which latter species, by the by, I 

 saw a specimen at Boghari said to have been killed in Algeria. 



121. CicoNiA ALBA, Bcchst. White Stork. 



As early as the 15th of February I noticed a Stork feeding 

 in a marsh at Oued el Alleg (river of leeches), and got within 

 50 yards. It stooped as it walked, but now and then held its 

 head up boldly. When it flew it stretched its head and neck 

 out to their fullest extent. I was informed that this was the 

 day on which they usually returned to Medea, where a pair were 

 repairing a nest on one of two chimneys at the gable end of a 

 house on the 1st of the following month. The nest was small, 

 and so much exposed to the wind that a mass of sticks had 

 fallen on to the lower roof of an adjoining house ; but the instinct 

 of the Storks did not lead them to use this material again. The 

 Stork leaves its nest with a spring, getting quite clear before it 

 ventures to expand its huge wings. It does not draw in its legs, 

 which are so long that they exceed the tail by nearly 12 inches. 

 Its feet appear to touch when it is flying ; but when it is just 

 about to alight they are parted widely. Both sexes clap the 

 bill, but never without first throwing back the head. 



122. Phcenicopterus antiquorum, Temm. Phcenicopterus 

 roseus, Pall. Flamingo. 



