248 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



localities. Where, however, the vegetation is varied by patches of 

 Haifa-grass, or other plants, the Lesser Bustard may also be met 

 with, and occasionally even the Houbara Bustard. 



The food of this species, like that of other Larks, consists of small 

 seeds and insects. 



Judging from the size and plumage of young birds of this species 

 in my collection, I should imagine that the nestmg season of C. duponti 

 commences about the beginning of April, and is continued throughout 

 May and into June. The nests and eggs which I possess were all 

 obtained between the end of April and the middle of May on the high 

 plateaux lying to the north of Feriana. The nests — placed at the 

 foot of tufts of wild thyme or other low-growing plants — are rather 

 loosely constructed of fine bents and grasses, with a plentiful adn:ixture 

 of the soft filaceous particles of Anthemis mixta (L.) and other similar 

 plants, and with little or no real lining. 



The eggs, generally three and occasionally four in number, vary 

 considerably in size and shape, as well as in their colouring and 

 marking. Even in the same clutch there is often a good deal of 

 individual variation, as may be seen by the following detailed descrip- 

 tion of a clutch of three eggs obtained on May ISth, 1897, at Bou 

 Chebka, Central Tunisia. This description was given by me in the 

 Ibis, but as eggs of this species are still rare in collections, I think 

 it worth while to repeat it here in full, as follows : — 



No. 1, glossy greyish-white ground; plentifully spotted and 

 blotched all over, but particularly at the larger end, with grey 

 shell-markings and yellow-brown surface-spots. Measurements 24 

 X 18 mm. 



No. 2, glossy greyish- white ground ; shell- marking grey and very 

 plentiful ; surface-spots faint yellow-brown and few, rather more 

 numerous at the larger end ; the shape of this egg is more pear-like 

 than the others. Measurements 25 x 17"o mm. 



No. 3, greyish-white ground, very evenly covered all over with 

 minute spots of a grey and faint yellow-brown colour ; not a single 

 large spot or blotch, and at a little distance the colour of the egg seems 

 to be uniform greenish. Measurements 24 X 17'5 mm. 



Other eggs of the species in my collection resemble, more or less, 

 one or other of those just described. I may also observe that the eggs 

 of this species are indistinguishable from some of those laid by the 

 Crested Larks. 



