356



Mr. T. H. Newman,



spring from a cock Goldfinch and a lien Goldfinch-Canary mule.

Not being able to ascertain any accurate particulars of the birds

breeding, its parentage is open to doubt; nevertheless, although

it unquestionably shows Serin (Canary) parentage and looks fully

f Goldfinch it is interesting, and at least favourable, to allude to

the fact that it was mistaken in gaslight from a curious Gold¬

finch.


The hybrid offspring of Ligurinus sinica aud L. chloris,

which I understand were bred at' the Zoo. some few years ago,

were found to be fertile. I am unable, however, just at the

present moment to vertify the particulars relating to the case.



MORE NOTES FROM NORTH-WEST AFRICA.


By T. H. Newman, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.


( Concluded from page 2947.


The following day, March 22nd, near the liver bed which

mostly consists of big stones, I saw Sparrows, very many

Swallows, which I think were the commonest bird here, at any

rate, it was the one most often seen during the whole trip; Serins

in numbers, a small flock of little Barks were, as far as I could

make out, the Lesser Short-toed Lark (1 Calandrella minor), a small

sandy brown species, with the breast spotted and streaked with

dark markings. They were feeding by the road side among the

weeds growing 011 the rough ground near the river.


Some small birds kept hovering over some growing crops

near, uttering as they did so, a monotonous zig zig sort of note ;

they were shy and dived into cover when closely watched, so that

I was unable to see them clearly, but from their habits and notes

I have 110 doubt they were Fantail Warblers (Cisticola cisticola).

I often heard this bird elsewhere.


Later in the day, I saw a small flock of House Martins,

many Serins, and with them, Linnets, these last looked to me

smaller than our own birds and I should have been inclined to

have thought them Redpolls, but no such bird has, I believe, been

recorded from here. I watched a fine hen Pallid Harrier (Circus

vicerurus) flying over some growing corn, near a Palm Grove, and

also saw a couple of Ravens and I think a Wood Wren. Next day

at Old Biskra I saw Swallows, House Martins and a Senegal Dove



