GALERIDA THEKL^ SUPERFLUA 265 



group, and inhabiting Central Tunisia and some of the less desert 

 districts of the south of tl:e Regency. In its coloration it varies 

 between G. thekhe major and the isabelline form, G. theklcB deichleri, 

 specimens from the north of its habitat resembling more the former, 

 and those from the south being more like the latter, while examples 

 from interlying districts, which may be called typical, are of a greyish 

 or pale sandy-brown colour. As, however, I have before had occasion 

 to remark, the different forms intergrade, and where they meet can 

 hardly be separated. 



The range of the present subspecies may be said to extend from 

 the southern slopes of the Atlas Mountains and the high central 

 plateaux to the more desert inland regions of the south of the Eegency, 

 where it meets the isabelline form, G. t. deichleri. Further east in 

 Tunisia its range extends along the coast right down to the Tripoli 

 frontier, though further inland in that part the rufous form, G. t. 

 carolince, occurs. 



In Algeria G. t. superflua is to be found in districts south of the 

 Atlas similar to those where it occurs in Tunisia. 



In Marocco, apparently, the form does not exist, its place in that 

 country being occupied by another form of short-billed Crested Lark, 

 which, owing to its rufous coloration, I described as distinct under 

 the name of Galerida theklce ruficolor (Ibis, 1898, p. 603). 



From Tripoli I have but two examples of G. t. superflua, and 

 apparently it is not common there. 



Further east, in the coast districts of Cyrenaica, another form of 

 short-billed Crested Lark is to be found, which I described as a new 

 subspecies under the name of Galerida theklce cyrenaicce (Ibis, 1902, 

 p. 654). This form is of a light mealy-grey coloration, quite different 

 from that of any other short-billed Crested Lark with which I am 

 acquainted. 



Like the other members of this group in Tunisia, G. t. superflua 

 evinces a preference for broken and hilly country, and seems to avoid 

 the more open, level plains where the long-billed Crested Larks are 

 commonly to be found. Certain districts, however, where stony plains 

 occur, varied by patches of fertile country, seem to attract both species 

 equahy, and here I have frequently had the opportunity of observing 

 the two together, and of noticing the great difference between them, 

 both in their nature and in their habits. On such occasions I have 

 also been able to compare the respective notes of the two species, 



