Ornithulogy of Nurthern Africa. 75 



applied to various uses by the natives, chiefly as ornaments for 

 their tents, drinking-cups and vvorkboxes, but above all for the 

 embellishment of the mosques, where long rows are suspended 

 from the arches or rafters, and of the burying-grounds, where each 

 grave, especially at Waregla and Ngoussa, is decorated with an 

 Ostrich-egg set in mortar at the head and at the foot, the Shieks 

 being honoured with from twelve to twenty each — sometimes 

 planted all round the grave, sometimes built into a pyramidal 

 shape at the head. 



The Ostrich appears to lay from the beginning of December 

 to !March — at least, fresh eggs are to be obtained throughout that 

 period; but I was unable to ascertain either the time of incuba- 

 tion or the number of the brood, as no dependence can be placed 

 on the Arab stories on these points. From all I could learn, the 

 number of eggs is not less than twelve ; and the young are gene- 

 rally hatched about the end of February. The hunters all agree, 

 that, though the parent bird covers the eggs with sand during 

 the day, she incubates them herself at night, and that her mate 

 remains in attendance by her. 



It will be interesting to ascertain, by a comparison of living 

 specimens, whether there be any distinction between the bird of 

 the North and South African deserts, as seems to be indicated 

 by the eggs*. 



110. Otis tetrax. (Little Buzzard.) " Rha'ahd, Rha'ahda," 

 Arab. 



Found only in the plains on the north of the Sahara, and 

 seldom beyond the limits of barley cultivation. On its migra- 

 tion it occurs in the southern oases for a few days together. 



111. HouBARA UXDULATA. (Rufflcd Bustard.) " Houbaraj" 

 Arab. 



Occurs throughout the Sahara, but becomes very scarce south- 



* When the youug Ostriches from the Cape, presented by Sii- George 

 Grey to the Zoological Society of London, are as fully grown as their com- 

 panions from Barbary, in the Gardens of the same Society, this may be 

 done without difficulty. Prince Charles Bonaparte has already distin- 

 guished an Ostrich as Strutkio epoastichtis (C. R. xliii. p. H41) ; but I am 

 not sure that this name is intended for either the Northern or Southern 

 Bird.— Ed. 



