Ornithohgrj of Northern Africa. 433 



phocoris clot-hey have been developed out of any known Eu- 

 ropean form, or that we are to presume so far to limit Creative 

 Power as to endeavour to explain the growth of Desert species wnz- 

 i;e;-sa//y by the development of individual peculiarities. Wherever 

 may have been the centre whence they sprung, undoubtedly there 

 are many creatui'es to be found there which could not have been 

 developed by any conceivable process from other known races. 

 But whilst it is contrary alike to sound philosophy and to Chris- 

 tian faith to doubt the creation of many species by the simple 

 exercise of Almighty volition, still, knowing that God ordinarily 

 works by natural means, it might be the presumption of an 

 unnecessary miracle to assume a distinct and separate origin for 

 many of those which we term species. We may speculate on 

 the question for a life-time ; this conclusion alone so far is cer- 

 tain, — that every peculiarity or difference in the living inhabit- 

 ants of each country is admirably adapted by the wisdom of 

 their beneficent Creator for the support and preservation of the 

 species. 



89. Lanius dealbatus, De Filippi : Bp. Kev. Zool. 1853, 

 p. 293. " Boorass," Arab. (The Pallid Shrike.) 



While its numerous congeners who resort to the coast of 

 North Africa are all migrants, the Pallid Shrike, which never 

 transgresses the northern limits of the Desert, remains a per- 

 manent resident, breeding very early not only in the trees of 

 the oases, but in the low jujubes and prickly shrubs of the 

 dayats. Its nest and eggs in no way differ from those of the 

 Great Grey Shrike, which it much resembles in size and gene- 

 ral appearance. It is a remarkably fearless bird, and will remain 

 calmly perched on the outmost edge of a palm leaf while a party 

 is sitting and talking beneath the shade of the tree. It is ex- 

 tremely abundant in all the oases, and its plaintive cry may be 

 heard in every dayat. I once saw one feasting on an impaled 

 Dartford Warbler, but its usual food appears to be the large 

 Baps which swarms in myriads through the dayats and weds. 

 Under the old nests at least a bushel of beetle wings might 

 be collected, and the insects hang impaled on every jujube thorn 

 around. This is not a solitary bird, though hardly gregarious, 

 but three or four may generally be found not far apart. It is 



VOL. I. 2 H 



