Ornithology of Northern Africa. 69 



100. COLUMBA (ENAS. (Stoclc DovC.) 



I shot several out of a large flock of this bird in the Dayat of 

 Tihlremet, between El Aghouat and the IM'zab country, in the 

 month of November. This was the only occasion on which I 

 met with it in the Sahara, but it is very common in all the 

 wooded districts of the Atlas. 



101. TuHTUR EGYPTiACUS. (Egyptian Turtlc-dovc.) '^ Ham- 

 mam,'" Arab. 



It is singular that whilst the common Turtle-dove [Turtur 

 risorius), so abundant throughout Algeria in summer, is 

 never seen except on passage in the Sahara, the Palm- dove, 

 as this species is well named, remains throughout the year, 

 but never advances further north than the date-tree, from 

 which it is inseparable. Among these palms it swarms to an 

 incredible extent. Whenever we i-ested at an oasis it supplied 

 us abundantly with our sole animal food. It was unnecessary 

 to do more than take one's stand in a garden, and tire as fast as 

 one could load the fowling-piece, till the bag was filled. Every 

 tree had, not its pair, but several pairs. Their nests are 

 huddled about the crest at the base of the leaves. Probably 

 from being undisturbed, these doves are very tame, and will 

 scarcely take flight at the report of a gun directly underneath 

 them. At Biskra, where the French officers appreciate the 

 excellence of their flesh, they are both wild and comparatively 

 scarce. Their flight is less vigorous than that of the common 

 Turtle-dove, and they do not expand tiieir tails in the same 

 manner. The nest of this dove is very slight, and the eggs only 

 slightly smaller than those of its congener. I was told they 

 have at least two broods a year. 



102. Pterocles arenarius. (Common Sand-grouse.) "El 

 Koudhre," Arab. 



Though less abundant than the following species, the Black- 

 breasted Sand-grouse is universally distributed throughout the 

 Sahara, excepting in the extreme south, where it gives place tc 

 Pterocles senegalus. There is much of the Plover character in 

 the flight and manner of this tribe ; and the first time I observed 

 a covey on the wing, I took them for some large plovers, until 



