PICA MAURITANICA 11 



G. cervicalis is to be found in most of the higher oak-forests of 

 North Tunisia, such as those near Ghardimaou, El-Fedja, and Ain- 

 Draham, and in some lof these it is not at all uncommon. In Algeria 

 the species has been observed by various ornithologists, and through- 

 out the well-wooded districts of the Aures Mountains it appears to 

 be abundant. Dr. Koenig found it plentiful near Batna and Laui- 

 bessa, and took nests of the species wjth eggs and young birds in the 

 month of May. In its general habits, and its harsh, discordant cry, 

 G. cervicalis resembles our European bird to a great extent. By 

 some ornithologists, however, it is considered to be less shy than G. 

 glandarius, although opinion appears to differ on this point, as other 

 travellers have found it as wary as our bird. Its food consists of 

 acorns and fruit of various kinds, as well as of insects and worms, and 

 at times it will prey upon young birds and eggs. According to Dr. 

 Koenig (J. f. 0. 189.5, p. 103), the nest of this Jay is very like that of 

 G. glandarius, and its eggs identical with those of that species, being 

 generally five or six in number, and of a greenish-grey colour, speckled 

 all over with light brown. Measurements 30 x 22 mm. 



Whether Garrulus minor occurs in Tunisia appears to be uncertain. 

 Baron v. Erlanger (J. f. 0. 1899, p. 419) mentions having observed 

 Jays in the woods north of Eeriana in Central Tunisia, but was 

 unable to secure a specimen, and he thinks the birds seen may have 

 G. minor, as Loche's example seems to have been obtained in Southern 

 Algeria. 



PICA MAURITANICA, Malherbe. 

 MOORISH MAGPIE. 



Pica mauritanica, Malherbe, Mim. cle la Soc. d'Hist. Nat. de Metz, p. 7 

 (1843) ; Malherbe, Gat. Bais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 52 (1846) ; Sharpe, Cat. 

 Birds Brit. Mus. iii, p. 66 ; Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 118 (1867) ; 

 Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 175 ; id. J. f. 0. 1892, p. 372 ; Whitaker, 

 Ibis, 1894, p. 94 ; Erlanger, J. f. 0. 1899, p. 490. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from North Tunisia. 



Entire head, neck, back, rump and upper tail-coverts black, with metallic- 

 green reflections ; a bare patch behind the eye cobalt-blue ; scapulars pure 

 white; tail metallic-green, glossed towards the tip with purple; primaries 



