12 BIRDS OP TUNISIA 



In its habits the present sub-species seems not to differ materially 

 from T. mcrula, L., but, according to Dr. Koenig, its song is inferior 

 to that of our European bird, being harsher, shriller, shorter, and 

 more broken, and with far less depth of tone. Its alarm note, when 

 surprised, is, however, the same as that of the European Blackbird. 



Dr. Koenig took nests and eggs of Blackbirds near El-Djem, and 

 on the Djebel Batteria. The nest and eggs apparently do not differ 

 from those of the common Blackbird, the former being a compact, 

 cup-shaped structure, composed chiefly of dry grasses and plant-fibre 

 neatly woven together, while the eggs, generally four in number, are 

 dull bluish-green, streaked and spotted all over with reddish-brown. 

 Average measurements 26 X 22 mm. The nest is usually placed 

 in a thick bush. 



TURDUS TORQUATUS, Linoteus. 

 EING-OUZEL. 



Tardus torquatus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 296 (1766) ; Malherbe, Cat. 



Beds. cVOis. Alg. p. 9 (1846) ; Whitaker, Ibis, 1898, p. 126. 

 Merula torquata, Bote, Isis, 1822, p. 652; Seebohm, Cat. Birds Brit. 



2Ius. V, p. 246 ; Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 190 (1867) ; Koenig, 



J. f. 0. 1888, p. 212 ; id. J. f. 0. 1893, p. 24 ; Erlangcr, J. f. 0. 1899, 



p. 247. 



Description. — Adult, winter, from Sousa, Central Tunisia. 



Above dark brownish-black, slightly paler on the quills and upper wing- 

 coverts ; throat and upper breast brownish-black, with a broad soiled white 

 pectoral band ; underparts below the gorget brownish-black, with a very 

 slight whitish fringe to the feathers, and no median white markings. 



Iris dark brown ; bill dark brown, yellowish at the base ; feet dark 

 brown. 



Total length 10'5 inches, wing 5-75, culraeu '7, tarsus 1-25. 



The Eing-Ouzel occurs in winter in some of the more mountainous 

 regions of Tunisia, but is probably only a migrant in the Eegency, and 

 not a resident and breeding species. 



It is true Malherbe (Faune Orn. Alg. p. 18) alludes to it as 

 having been observed on the Edough Mountain near Bone, in Algeria, 

 as late as the month of May, and Loche (Expl. Scient. Alg. Ois. i. 



