Birds of the Province of Constantine. 577 



Pyrrhocorax ? 



We saw a great number of Choughs in the Djebel Aures, 

 both near Oued Taga and in the cedar-range, but failed to 

 identify the species. 



COLUMBA LIVIA. 



The Rock-Dove we found everywhere in rocky districts, no 

 matter how sterile the country around. 



COLUMBA PALUMBUS. 



I saw a single specimen of this bird in a wooded ravine 

 below Djebel Mahmel, near Oued Taga; but Mr. Elwes saw 

 several examples in the cedar-range and at Lambessa. 



TURTUR AURITUS. 



We found the Common Turtle Dove numerous in the oases 

 of El Kantara and Biskra, where it frequents the tops of the 

 palm-trees. I also observed it in flocks at Biskra. It is also 

 found near Batna and Lambessa. A specimen I shot at the 

 latter place is much paler than the ordinary run of specimens 

 of T. auritus. We met with this bird crossing the Mediter- 

 ranean Sea on the 16th of May. 



We were sorely led astray by the remarks in Dresser's 

 ' Birds of Europe ' respecting the habits and migrations of 

 this bird. So much do the habits of the present species 

 resemble those of the Egyptian Turtle Dove, Turtur senega- 

 lensis, that we confused the two birds together. Like the 

 Egyptian Turtle Dove, it frequents the palm trees, almost 

 every date-palm containing a few birds, and is quite tame, and 

 associates freely with other species. According to Dresser 

 the Common Turtle Dove is a summer visitant to North-west 

 Africa; but the birds we met with had every appearance of 

 being resident. 



COTURNIX COMMUNIS. 



The Quail is pretty generally distributed throughout the 

 cultivated districts. A specimen flew on board when we were 

 at sea (27th of April) . 



Caccabis petrosa. 



The Barbary Partridge is a very condmon bird in the 



