210 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



tainiiig two addled eggs was found near Timbain in the hollow of 

 an old desert tree. 



Loche, Canon Tristram and Dr. Koenig all appear to have met 

 with the Desert-Sparrow in the Algerian Sahara, the last-named 

 gentleman having also been fortunate enough to find it breeding 

 in various localities in the Ouargla district. In Tripoli Mr. Dodson 

 met with the bird on various occasions in the Fezzan, where it was 

 not uncommon. 



There seems to be some difference of opinion as to the description 

 of country and localities most frequented by the Desert-Sparrow, and 

 also regarding the situations selected by it for its nest. All the 

 evidence, however, points to the species being partial to sandy spots, 

 and it probably occurs both on the outskirts of the oases and in the 

 more open country, and nests in trees as well as in the holes of 

 well-sides, or similar sites. J\lr. Dodson, alluding to the birds of 

 this species met with in Tripoli, says that he observed them only in 

 palm-trees, where, apparently, they were breeding. Baron v. Erlanger, 

 as already mentioned, found a nest in the hollow of an old desert 

 tree, and was informed by Herr Paul W. H. Spatz that these birds 

 nested among the sticks forming the nests of some of the larger 

 Eaptores, built on similar desert trees. Dr. Koenig, on the other 

 hand, appears to have found the species nesting in the crevices of well- 

 sides. 



In many of its habits, as well as in its note, the Desert-Sparrow 

 seems to resemble the Tree-Sparrow. It feeds chiefly on seeds, but 

 also to a large extent on insects. Its nest is a rather bulky structure 

 compactly built of dry Haifa grass, wool and feathers, and the eggs, 

 which are usually three in number, are said to closely resemble those 

 of the Tree-Sparrow. 



Baron v. Erlanger considers the Desert-Sparrow found in Tunisia 

 and Algeria to be somewhat different from typical P. simplex, and 

 has separated it subspecifically from that species under the name of 

 P. simplex saharce (J. f. 0. 1899, p. 472). I fail, however, to see 

 sufficient grounds for this distinction. 



