OTOCORYS BILOPHA 293 



Mr. Dodson, when collecting for me in the Maroccan Atlas, 

 discovered another species of Horned Lark, which I described as new, 

 under the name of Otoconjs atlas (Bull B. 0. C. vii, p. 47), and 

 subsequently figured in the Ibis, at the same time giving some 

 further particulars regarding the bird (Ibis, 1898, p. 604, pi. 13). 

 This Maroccan Horned Lark most nearly resembles 0. elioesi, par- 

 taking of the characters of both 0. alpestris and 0. penicillata, though 

 like 0. elwesi, inclining perhaps rather more to the latter. 



Mr. Dodson found this rare species in the mountain-valley of 

 Glaoui, at an elevation of about 5,000 feet above sea-level, and 

 secured a pair of the birds, the only ones met with. 



0. biloplia, like other Horned Larks, is exclusively a ground bird, 

 and is usually to be found frequenting stony plains, in preference 

 to the sandy desert or the salt marsh-country of the Sebkas. 

 Elevated rocky plateaux are favourite haunts of the bird, and of 

 these there is no lack in Southern Tunisia. The vegetation of 

 these districts is naturally of a desert or semi-desert description and 

 is limited to stunted dwarf shrubs and low-growing plants, which, 

 however, appear to afford shelter to the birds and convenient sites 

 for their nests. According to Dr. Koenig, one of the commonest of 

 these plants is Hellanthemum hirtum, Pers, and where that shrub 

 grows one may be almost sure of meeting with 0. bilopha. Haifa- 

 grass and other graminaceous plants also flourish in some of these 

 districts. In such localities the Desert Horned Lark is to be met 

 with chiefly in pairs during the early spring and in flocks during the 

 remainder of the year, when it is apparently more shy and not so 

 easily approached as it is in the spring. During the breeding season 

 the species is certainly anything but shy and allows one to approach 

 close to it. 



In Tripoli Mr. Dodson found the species in small family parties 

 in the late spring, and in flocks, often of considerable size, during 

 the summer, when occasionally he noticed the Horned Larks con- 

 sorting with the small Desert Lark, Ammomanes c. arenicolor. He 

 observed a peculiar habit the present species has of flying in curves 

 when ascending, uttering a short, sharp note while doing so, and then 

 a more prolonged note when descending. The male bird has a rather 

 bright and pleasant though disconnected song. The food of the 

 species consists of small seeds and insects. 



To Dr. Koenig, who w^as fortunate enough to meet with several 



