78 Rev. H. B. Tristram on the 



126. Phce.vicopterus antiquorum. (Flamingo.) " Sha- 

 hroosej" Arab. 



Appears to exhibit a constant aversion to marshes or lakes 

 partially surrounded by trees^ and consequently does not occur 

 in the Wed R^hir. A large flock were observed feeding in the 

 open chott of Waregla. It certainly does not breed there. 



127. Geronticus comatus. (Bald Ibis.) 



This extraordinary bird I never saw during my second sojourn 

 in Algeria ; but on my first visit to the Sahara in the spring of 

 1856 I obtained two specimens in the rocky ridges beyond 

 Bou Guizoun, on the road to El Aghouat. Unlike the rest of 

 its family, it resorts only to the most arid and desolate mountain 

 ranges, where it consorts with the raven and the falcon. Its 

 food, as I ascertained, consists of lizards and sei-pents; but it is 

 doubtless ignorant of the flavour of tailless Batrachians. It breeds 

 in inaccessible holes of the precipices, which I was unable to 

 reach, though I saw the birds going in and out. Capt. Das- 

 tugue of the French ' Genie,^ showed me a coarse egg of a deep 

 blue colour, almost the size of that of the Common Heron, which 

 he believed to be the egg of this bird. It does not appear to be 

 gregarious. The bright red legs and feet of a fresh-killed spe- 

 cimen are peculiarly coarse and rough in the scales, adapted 

 evidently for rocks and sand, rather than mud and water. The 

 bare portion of the head and neck is, as well as the bill, of a 

 brilliant crimson. 



128. Falcinellus igneus. (Glossy Ibis.) " Madzet et 

 Mci " (Devil Crow), Arab. 



Two or three of these birds were seen with the Little Egrets at 

 Tuggurt. They are nowhere common. 



129. EuDROMiAS MORiNELLUs. (Commou Dotterel.) " El 

 Mohr " (rich), Arab. 



Vast flocks of Dotterels in winter plumage occurred frequently 

 during our wanderings wherever Lalpha {Andropogon) or other 

 desert vegetation harboured beetles. They were very tame, and 

 in good condition. It is of course only a winter visitant. 



130. iEoiALiTES CANTiANUS. (Keutish Plover.) 



One of the most universally distributed denizens of the Sahara, 



