Bird-Life of Eastern Algeria. 139 



19 Emberiza calandra L. Corn-Buuting. 



Extremely common in the corn-growing districts south to 

 Biskra. Clutches of five to six eggs taken from mid-April 

 onward (J). Common near Ain Mokra : clutches taken 

 from May 13 to 15 (R). 



20. Emberiza cia africana Le Roi. African Rock-Bunting. 

 Noted near El Kantara, and on the hills above Lamb^se 



on May 2 (J). Common on the barren and bushy hillsides 

 of the Aures range : also noted at H. Meskoutine in April 



(W). 



21. Emberiza cirlus L. Cirl Bunfing. 



A nest with four incubated eggs found on May 14 at Ain 

 Mokra (R) . 



22. Emberiza striolata sahari Lev. House-Bunting. 



It is well known that this bird breeds in holes in 

 the Arab houses at El Kantara, Biskra^ and other places, 

 but we were much surprised to find a nest with three eggs 

 in the crown of a palm-tree at Biskra, quite 25 ft. from 

 the ground ! Moreover, it is by no means confined to the 

 neighbourhood of houses, for we found several nests in 

 small caves and recesses in the face of perpendicular cliffs 

 at considerable altitudes among the mountains, and far from 

 any buildings. In the villages almost any kind of hole may 

 be utilized : we have seen the characteristic " pad ^' of hair, 

 lining even old Swallows' and Pigeons' nests in the out- 

 buildings of a French farm. The clutch consists of four 

 eggs and fledged young were seen on April 21, and fresh 

 eggs from April 18 to May 1 (J). Resident in Biskra, El 

 Kantara, and the Arab villages in the Aures range, where 

 it was found haunting the houses in February (VV). 



23. Rhamphocorys clot-bey Bp. Falcon-billed Lark. 



A family party of recently fledged young met with east of 

 Biskra on April 24 (J). Empty nest and four half-grown 

 young found dispersed at varying distances on April 10, 

 1912, near Biskra : both parents shot (W). 



