80 Recent Discoveries in European Oology. 



Yarrell, and figured as such in the Supplement to his work, from 

 a specimen said to have been killed in Oxfordshire. Mr. Tris- 

 tram says, that " although not rare in the wooded districts of 

 northern Algeria, its nest had, until last yeai', eluded the re- 

 searches of all the French collectors. Various eggs had from 

 time to time come into the hands of the Paris dealers, the 

 produce of birds in captivity ; but these two eggs are, as far as 

 I can ascertain, the very first from a bird in a state of nature. 

 They were taken by Capt. Loche, of the French army, in Kobah 

 forest, on July 11th, 1857. The nest contained seven eggs, 

 nearly fresh. It was placed on the ground in the midst of a 

 dense thicket of underwood, most ingeniously concealed, and 

 where no dog could penetrate to put up the bird. 



" It was in such situations that I had frequently before found 

 the Hemipode, which never occurs in the plains or in the desert. 

 When disturbed, it is scarcely possible to make it take wing. 

 When beaten out of a bush, it half runs, half flies, to the nearest 

 cover, somewhat after the manner and with much of the ap- 

 pearance of Baillon's Crake. I do not believe that it migrates 

 in the Atlas, as specimens are occasionally found at all times of 

 the year ; nor does it appear ever to congregate, either in flocks 

 or bevies, after the manner of the Quail, to which, indeed, in all 

 its habits it aff"ords a striking contrast. 



" The female is very much larger and generally more brilliant 

 in colouring than the male, and is at least one-third heavier 

 than her mate. I was out with Capt. Loche when he discovered 

 this nest, of which he kindly allotted me three eggs.'' 



Mr. Gould has figured the two sexes as of equal size, and says 

 that it is difficult to distinguish them by their plumage each 

 from the other. 



The eggs bear but little resemblance to those of other gallina- 

 ceous birds. The shell is delicate and thin, and touched with 

 a neutral purple tint, which gives them some likeness to those 

 of the Pratincole. 



