278 BIBDS OF TUNISIA 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Tatahouine, South Tunisia. 



Upper plumage similar to that of A. desertl algeriensis, but rather 

 brighter ; tail-feathers distinctly rufescent and terminating in a blackish 

 band ; primaries also distinctly rufescent and tipped with blackish-brown, 

 secondaries rufescent ; underparts white, the breast tinged with isabelline 

 and the flanks and inside of wings rufescent. 



Iris dark hazel ; bill yellowish ; feet flesh-colour. 



Total length 5-50 inches, wing 3-55, culmen -35, tarsus -75. 



Adult female similar to the male, but rather duller in coloration, 

 particularly in the dark tips of the tail and primaries. 



The small Desert Lark of North-west Africa, with a dark tip 

 to the tail, differs from typical A. cinctura (Gould), in its much paler 

 coloration, and the difference being apparently constant, the birds 

 should no doubt be separated subspecifically. 



As pointed out by Mr. Hartert (Nov. Zool. iv, p. 140), Gould's 

 name of A. cinctura applies to the small Desert Lark of the Cape 

 Verde Islands; the next available name is A. arenicolor (Sundev.), 

 to which may be referred the small Desert Lark from North-west 

 Africa, as well as that from North-east Africa, there being no 

 appreciable difference between the two. Examples from Arabia also 

 seem to be referable to this form. 



The range of this pretty little Desert Lark in Tunisia is practically 

 the same as that of its larger congener, though, unlike that bird, the 

 present species does not appear to occur on hill-sides, but only on 

 the stony plains and on the borders of sandy desert districts. 

 Numerically, also, it seems to be less plentiful in the Regency than 

 A. d. algeriensis. 



Though not to be found actually on hill-slopes, I have met with 

 the bird on stony plains at the foot of mountains, one of these plains 

 being that lying a little to the north of Gafsa, where I was somewhat 

 surprised to find the species, not expecting to meet with it so far 

 north. It must, however, be rare there, for I met with no other 

 example of it beyond the single one I secured. On the hard, arid 

 plains near Metlaoui, west of Gafsa, I also met with the species in 

 limited numbers. 



From the country immediately south of the Chott Djerid, where 

 the soil is more or less sandy, I have specimens of this Lark, as also 

 from the neighbourhood of Tatahouine and Guermessa further south. 

 Throughout the Regency generally, south of Gafsa, the species may 



