Ornithology of Northern Africa. 295 



During the breeding-season both sexes assume a brighter rose- 

 colour than at any other period. 



28. Emberiza cirlus. (Cirl Bunting.) 



I have found this bird occasionally in the open plains of 

 K'sour and Oumache, in company with the following. It seems 

 to be only of winter passage in the Sahara. 



29. Emberiza cia. (Meadow Bunting.) 



Not uncommon in small bands of from six to twelve in the 

 open country from K^sour southwards, and also all through the 

 oasis district of the Wed R'hir, south of Eastern Algeria. I 

 have always observed the sexes apart in winter, and the males 

 far more abundant than the females. It is only a winter visitant 

 to the Sahara. In habits and general characteristics it no way 

 differs from our Yellow Bunting {Emberiza citrinella). 



30. Fringillaria sahar^, Bp. (House Bunting.) " Fi- 

 seeough," Arab. 



I have ventured to call this the House Bunting, both from its 

 habits and its local name in the M'zab country. It is almost con- 

 fined to the southern Oases. The older catalogues gave Emberiza 

 strioiata as an Algerian species. Now, however, Fringillaria 

 saharce is added. It ought rather to be substituted, as there is 

 but one species yet found in the country. The distinctions be- 

 tween the E. strioiata of Biippell and the Fringillaria Sahara 

 of Bonaparte are very slight, and seem scarcely to mark more 

 than a local variety. In F. saharce. the white line behind the 

 eye is smaller and fainter, the striated markings on the head are 

 rather smaller, and the whole plumage of a more tawny hue, 

 while the back does not exhibit the faint black marks down the 

 centre of each feather. I have before me a series of M^zab spe- 

 cimens, and two of E. strioiata, from Abyssinia, collected by 

 A. Brehm. 



The House Bunting is deservedly a great favourite, from its 

 lively familiar habits and its cheerful song. Few houses in the 

 city of Ghardaia are without a pair or two of these little song- 

 sters in their courtyard, and throughout the winter (if winter it 

 may be called) the male, perched on the top of the balcony, 



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