274 BIEDS OF TUNISIA 



In Algeria the Woodlark is not uncommon in certain districts, 

 and I have specimens of it obtained on the slopes of the Djebel 

 Mahmel in the month of May, when presumably the birds were 

 nesting. 



Neither from Marocco, nor from Tripoli have I specimens of the 

 Woodlark, but it is stated to occur in the former country, and to be 

 not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Tangier and Larache. 



The present species chiefly affects hill-slopes and bushy plains, 

 where trees are scattered about, or generally what may be called 

 semi-forest country. At times, however, it may be met with actually 

 inside woods. Though often seen on the ground, it is also arboreal to 

 a considerable extent and fond of perching on trees. 



In its habits it is rather shy and timid. Its song, which may be 

 heard at all hours of the day and occasionally even late at night, is sweet 

 and plaintive. It is uttered by the bird either when on the wing, or 

 when perching. Insects and seeds of various kinds form the food of 

 this species. The Woodlark nests on the ground and lays four or 

 five eggs, which resemble small examples of those of the Crested 

 Larks, being of a greenish-white colour, with grey shell-marks and 

 yellow-brown surface spots. Two broods are usually reared during 

 the season. 



AMMOMANES DESERTI ALGERIENSIS (Sharpe). 



ALGEEIAN DESEET LAEK. 



Ammomanes desertii, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 25 (1867). 

 Ammomanes isabellina, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 24 (1867). 

 Ammomanes deserti, Whitaker, Ibis, 1894, p. 93. 

 Ammomanes algeriensis, Sliarpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xiii, p. 645 ; 

 Eoenig, J.f. 0. 1893, p. 15; Erlanger, J.f. 0. 1899, p. 451. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Eas-el-Aioum, South Tunisia. 



Upper plumage warm isabelline, rather brighter and more rufescent 

 on the rump, upper tail-coverts, scapulars, and upper wing-coverts ; super- 

 ciliary stripes very pale isabelline ; primaries pale sandy-brown, their outer 

 webs rufescent on the basal portion ; secondaries rather greyer ; tail pale 

 sandy-brown, the outermost pair of feathers rufescent, and the adjoining pair 

 with a rufescent outer web ; chin and throat whitish, faintly striped with 



