290 BIRDS "of TUNISIA 



but during the autumn and winter it appears to congregate together, 

 and is then to be found in small flocks. On the few occasions when 

 it has been my good fortune to encounter the bird I have found it far 

 from shy, and instead of flying off on my approach it has allowed me to 

 walk close up to it before taking to flight. On one particular occasion 

 I remember observing one of these birds, which had evidently seen me 

 from a distance coming towards it, crouch down as closely as it could 

 to the bare ground, remaining there motionless, with its liead turned 

 towards me, watching me as I slowly walked up to it, and it was only 

 on my approaching within a yard of the spot where it was that it 

 finally took to its wings. The species evidently does not readily take 

 to flight, but seeks to escape detection by concealment and, according 

 to some observers, by running off on the approach of danger, like 

 some other Larks, such as ChersophUus diiponti and Alamon 

 aJaudipes. When the present species does use its wings it rarely 

 takes a long flight, but skims over the surface of the ground for a 

 short distance and then settles down again. Its flight, however, is 

 by no means feeble, but the contrary, and should a strong wind 

 happen to be blowing, it is, indeed, rather swift and somewhat darting. 

 Though not shy, this Lark seems to be generally on the alert, and 

 I have seen it perching on a low rock or stone spying the country 

 round it, after the manner of a Chat. 



The food of the species consists of small seeds and insects. In the 

 crop of one of these birds I found a locust almost entire, and in that 

 of another a good-sized beetle, minute seeds being also present in 

 both cases. 



I have never heard this Lark's note, but according to Dr. Koenig 

 the bird emits a lark-like twitter when on the wing, though he never 

 heard it utter any real song. To the same author we are indebted for 

 some interesting notes regarding the breeding of this species, together 

 with an excellent plate of a brooding female, with its nest and eggs 

 (J. f. 0. 1895, p. 263, pi. xiv). Judging from a specimen of a young 

 bird in my collection from South Tunisia, the species must commence 

 nesting operations early in the year, probably the end of February or 

 beginning of March, but the breeding season is no doubt continued 

 throughout March and April, and perhaps into May. The nest, 

 which seems always to be placed in a depression in the ground, hidden 

 by a tussock of Haifa-grass or some other desert plant, and sur- 

 rounded by small stones, is large and well-built, being composed of 



