Ornithology of Northern Africa. 41 7 



bird I ever saw, and which can scarcely be described on paper. 

 In the eastern province we obtained several nests as far north as 

 Batna. 



47. Dandalus rubecula. (Robin.) A winter visitant to 

 the oases. 



48. CuRRUCA ATRiCAPiLLA. (Black Cap.) 



49. CuRRUCA HORTENSis. (Garden Warbler.) 



50. CuRRUCA ORPHEA. (Orphean Warbler.) 



51. Sylvia curruca. (Lesser Whitethroat.) 



52. Sylvia cinerea. (Whitethroat.) 



All these five Warblers are common winter residents in the 

 oases, and among the bushes of the ravines. 



53. Sylvia coNSPiciLLATA. (Spectacled Warbler.) "M'zil," 

 Arab. 



The common and characteristic Warbler of the whole Sahara. 

 Everywhere it appears to be a constant resident, resorting 

 to the open grounds, where it haunts the small bushes and 

 Statica, living indifferently on the salt marshes or on the 

 more exposed and bleak plateaux. It does not appear ever to 

 resort either to the oases or the dayats, and so far differs in its 

 habits from all its congeners. Affecting no concealment, it hops 

 in front of its pursuer from bush to bush, searching for small 

 beetles among the roots of each. More than one or two are 

 never seen together, but it is impossible to ride far without de- 

 tecting it. In the spring of 1857, we found many nests placed 

 about a foot from the ground in the centre of small low bushes 

 in the north-eastern plains near the Nememcha country north 

 of Biskra, The nest is deep, veiy artistically constructed, and 

 contains four or five eggs, not larger than those of the Willow 

 Wren, and much resembling the paler varieties of the White- 

 throat's. I never observed any with the dark spots which are 

 general on the latter. 



54. Sylvia deserticola*, Tristram, Ibis, 1859, p. 58. 

 (Desert Warbler.) 



Found only in the southern portion of the Desert, where it 



* Stoparola deserti, Loche, Rev. Zool. 1858, p. 394. pi. 11. fig. 1 (fig. 

 pess.). — Ed. 



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