292 BIEDS OF TUNISIA 



the nape, and bordered below with black; upper-parts rufescent-isabelline ; 

 primaries and primary-coverts black ; secondaries black on the inner webs 

 and tips ; middle tail-feathers rufescent-isabelline, the remainder with a 

 black subterminal band and white tip ; underparts pale isabelline, but whitish 

 on the throat, lower abdomen and crissum ; axillaries and under wing- 

 surface black. 



Iris very dark brown ; bill dark brown ; feet white. 



Total length 10 inches, wing 6-30, eulmen 1, tarsus 2-20. 



Adult female similar to the male. 



The young bird has the upper-plumage marked with crescent-shaped 

 dark lines, the crown entirely rafous-isabelline, and without the black and 

 white bands encircling the nape. 



This graceful and delicately-plumaged species is not uncommon 

 in spring and summer in South Tunisia and in the more sandy and 

 sterile districts of Central Tunisia. It is also to be met with in 

 certain numbers in summer in the north of the Regency, and during 

 the months of July and August may not unfrequently be found in the 

 immediate vicinity of the town of Tunis. 



The species is apparently more migratory than resident in Tunisia, 

 even in the southern parts of the Regency, though in some districts 

 it is probably to be found in limited numbers throughout the year. 

 This is no doubt the case throughout North-west Africa generally. 



In the Algerian Sahara the species appears to be abundant in 

 spring and summer, but, according to Canon Tristram, is only to be 

 found in small numbers during the winter. Dr. Koenig met with the 

 species in spring, not only in the Algerian Sahara, but also in the 

 cultivated country near Batna, north of the Atlas. 



From Marocco I have examples obtained in spring and summer 

 in the central and southern districts, while in the north of the Empire 

 the species seems to occur in certain numbers during the summer 

 months. It is also to be found on most, if not on all, the Canary 

 Islands, and on some of them appears to be numerous, and from 

 not being molested, is tamer than the bird usually is in other 

 countries. 



Eastward the species is to be found in Tripoli, Cyrenaica and 

 North-east Africa, and still further east through Arabia and Persia, 

 as far as Northern India. From Tripoli and Cyrenaica I have 

 numerous examples of the species, including young birds. 



As a straggler the Cream-coloured Courser has occurred from time 

 to time in various countries north of the Mediterranean, and in our 



