354 Mr. 0. Salviu's Five Months' Birds' -nesting 



Guerah el Tharf. As this country was worked by Mr. Simpson 

 while I was at Djcndcli and Zana, I have nothing noted of the 

 habits of this birdj as I did not see it when passing through 

 that district. 



104. CEdicnemus crepitans. (Stone Curlew.) 



This bird was our constant companion while encamped in the 

 lake districts. We seldom used to see it during the day, but 

 towards evening and after sundown the cries of several indivi- 

 duals resounded incessantly round our tents. 



105. CuRsoRius GALLicus. (Cream- colourcd Courser.) 



It was not until the end of June that I met with this bird. 

 We had just broken up our final camp at Zana, and were 

 returning by way of the Caravanserai of Am Yacoute to Con- 

 stautine, when, at a short distance from the former place, we 

 encountered a small flock in one of the undulating and sterile 

 plains through which the high road to Batna and Biskra runs. 

 The birds showed little symptoms of fear, and ran before our 

 horses, or flew round our heads. At the time we thought they 

 were not breeding there, but, as they were all in full adult 

 plumage, I have since considered that they were there for no 

 other purpose. The fact was, our faces were set homewards, and 

 it was difficult to stop, even for the eggs of the Cream-coloured 

 Courser. Mr. Tristram kindly gave me one of the eggs obtained 

 by him, as mentioned in The Ibis, Vol. I. page 79; and, compar- 

 ing this with Mr. Gurney's and Mr. Newton's examples from 

 Tangiers, I may remark that, as regards my own specimen, the 

 intensity of colour is decidedly in favour of the latter; and I 

 attribute this inferiority to the effect of exposure, which in the 

 parching climate of Southern Algeria is fatal to the colour of 



106. Glareola pratincola. (Pratincole.) 



The Pratincole was found in the table lands of the interior, 

 frequenting the salt lakes and freshwater marshes. Its fearless 

 manner and familiar habits cause it to rank high among the 

 interesting birds of the country; and I remember few that I have 

 watched with greater pleasure. When in proximity to their nests, 

 the whole flock come wheeling and screaming round, while some 



