Mr. J. I. S. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds. 131 



instance, this hole extended nearly a yard in length in a 

 horizontal direction, but without any bend. The nest and 

 eggs, of which there were again five^ apparently the full 

 complement, resembled those previously found. These eggs 

 were also somewhat incubated. I did not measure any of 

 them, but they appeared identical with the first clutch. In 

 digging out this nest I unearthed a rather large scorpion, 

 which made me wonder how these birds can bring up their 

 young safely, exposed as they are, particularly those nesting 

 in holes in the ground, to so many dangers. 



The third nest I took at Oglet-Zelles on the 17th April. 

 In this instance the hole, which was probably the deserted 

 home of some small rodent, was in almost level ground, 

 where a few scrub plants served to hold the light crumbling 

 soil together. Like the other two, this hole extended about 

 a yard in length, but in a slightly oblique downward direction. 

 This nest contained only four eggs, very slightly incubated. 

 In colour they resembled those previously found, but the 

 spots were fewer and more minute, in one egg being almost 

 entirely wanting, in another the few there were being col- 

 lected in a zone at the larger end. In shape these eggs 

 were more oval than those of the other two clutches. The 

 following are the measurements of two of them : — {a) 24 x 

 15-5 mm. j {b) 23x16 mm. 



I secured the hen-bird in each instance^ after having seen 

 her enter and leave her nest-hole, and in two of the cases I 

 shot what was presumably the cock-bird as well. I doubt 

 the male parent taking much, if any, part in the incubation 

 of the eggs, as, although generally to be seen in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of the nest, I failed to observe it enter, or leave 

 the hole in any one of the three cases I have mentioned. 

 The fact also of the male birds being so much oftener seen 

 during the breeding-season than the females would tend to 

 support this supposition, allowing even for the more con- 

 spicuous plumage of the former. 



Saxicola mcesta is, without doubt, an early breeder^ and 

 has more than one brood in the course of the season, young 

 birds of this species, fully fledged and able to fly, being met 



