BUTEO DESERTORUM 99 



offer a fairly distinctive character. In B. biiteo the bars on the tail 

 are more numerous and closer together than they are in B. deser- 

 toruin, and moreover, never seem to disappear entirely, or become 

 obsolete with age, as in the latter species ; on the other hand, I do 

 not find that the difference in the proportions of the middle toe, 

 which is thought by some to be a distinguishing feature, is suffi- 

 ciently constant to be taken into account. The fact of the two 

 species occurring in the same country, if fully established, would be 

 an argument in favour of their being considered specifically distinct 

 one from the other. 



The Algerian or Desert Buzzard occurs generally throughout the 

 Tunisian Regency, being however, more often met with in the semi- 

 desert country, and among the lower hill ranges of the central and 

 southern districts, than in the woodlands and higher mountains of 

 the north. The species appears to be universally distributed through- 

 out North-west Africa, and is more or less abundant in both Algeria 

 and Marocco. In the former country I found it not uncommon on 

 the plains to the east of Biskra, and on the southern slopes of the 

 Aures mountains, while from Marocco my collection possesses 

 examples of it, obtained at Shafel-Akab, Garbia, and in the neighbour- 

 hood of Tangier. In Spain and Portugal, as also in Italy, this 

 Buzzard has been met with occasionally, but it can only be regarded 

 as an accidental visitor to South-west Europe, though abundant in the 

 South-east of our Continent. Apparently the species occurs through- 

 out the whole of the African Continent, and a considerable portion 

 of Asia. 



While resembling the Common Buzzard in many ways, the 

 African Buzzard appears to differ from that bird in its more active 

 habits, and in its more graceful appearance and flight. It is some- 

 times to be seen soaring to a great height, and then dropping 

 suddenly down, and sweeping along within a few feet of the surface 

 of the ground, its flight and movements being particularly graceful 

 and dashing. Its cry is shrill and piercing. Its food consists chiefly 

 of the small mammals and reptiles so abundant in semi-desert regions, 

 but it also feeds on insects to a considerable extent, locusts entering 

 largely into its diet during the periods of their invasions. 



The breeding-season of this species in Tunisia may be said to 

 commence towards the end of March, and extends throughout April, 

 into May. Holes in low cliffs are generally chosen as sites for the 



