166 Rev. F. C. E. Jourdaiu on the 



169. Porphyrio cserulea (Vandelli). Purple Gallinule. 

 Although not nearly so common as the Coots, Purple 



Gallinules are nevertheless found in fair numbers on Lac 

 Fetzara, and are not at all shy. In a day's work some 

 fifteen or twenty birds may be flushed from the rushes and 

 reed-beds. Occasionally one may be seen perched on the 

 top of lofty reeds, looking very much out of place as it 

 grasps them with its enormous pink feet. Messrs, Wallis 

 and Pearson took clutches on April 23 and 24, and newly 

 hatched young were found by Jourdain on May 1 ; while 

 eggs were also found on May 4, and young and eggs from 

 the 10th to the 14th by Messrs. Ratcliff and Murray, The 

 nests seem to be more built up above the water than those 

 of the Coot and often have reeds lying across them (J, 

 W, R) . Young about two days old have a strong curved bill, 

 reddish flesh at the base, a black spot at the beginning of the 

 feathers on the upper mandible, rest of bill white, black- 

 tipped, down black all over, top of head nearly bald and 

 soft, showing red flesh. Iris dark brown, feet reddish 

 flesh : small white curved claw ^ in. long on " thumb " 

 where bastard wing is (R). 



170. Megalornis grus grus (L.) ? Crane. 



A flock of large slow-flying slaty grey birds, probably this 

 species, seen north of El Guerrah on February 5, 1906 (W). 



171. Houbara undnlata undulata (Jacquin.). Houbara 

 Bustard. 



Fresh eggs were shown to me at Biskra, which had been 

 brought in by Arabs some time before April 25 (J). Two 

 were seen to pitch in standing barley at Chetmah, near 

 Biskra, April 10, 1912 (W), 



172. BurMnus cedicnemus saharse Reich w\ Saharau 

 Stone-Curlew. 



Heard in the Bled Salaouine and the plain of El Outaia. 

 An egg was brought in by an Arab at El Outaia on 

 February 3 ! and a clutch of two much incubated eggs taken 

 on April 24 (J). A pair near Tebessa (R). 



