( 44 ) 



with sand ; aiid sncli cnniitry, viz. saiuly ]ilain3 or plateaux with stones and rocks, 

 are the princiiial localities where this species is found. Accordiii;,' to ray experience 

 it docs not inhabit the very barest hammada nor the rocky mountains, which are 

 so often the home of A. deserti algeriomis. 



We found it not rare on the plateau east of Gharda'ia, but generally in sandy 

 oueds. About six or cif^ht speciraeas were observed, and three of them shot, 

 about half-way between Ouargla and El-({olea, on March 10, on a j^'ravelly i)lain, 

 where stones appeared in quantities. 



On April 2 a pair was observed on stony ground near the sand-dunes of 

 the Erg-bent-Chaouli ; then again on April 5, in a sandy river-bed (Oued el- 

 Far), in the middle of an endless hammada, 25 km. south of Fort Miribel. 



Farther south four specimens were seen together in the sandy river-bed of 

 the Oued el-Abiodh, uortli of In-Salali, on April 14, two of which were shot; 

 they had ovary and testicles very small, being evidently some time before their 

 nesting season. None were observed in the same neighbourhood on April 25. 



On our return journey (|nite a number were seen in the entirely sandy jilaiii 

 lietwcen El-Alia and Blcdet-Ahmar. All the specimens from these various 

 localities were the same, though varying individually a good deal, especially on 

 the crown, liind-ueck, and back. 



No eggs were found, but a nest with naked young was discovered on June 2, 

 26 km. east of Ghardaia (I'l. Vi.). 



14. Cralerida theklae deichleri Erl. 



Cf. Nui: Z,„d. xviii. p. 4%. 



As in lOoO, we found this very pale form on the sands north of Kef-el- Dor, 

 but it was not very numerous there by the end of February. One of the specimens 

 had some feathers on the liaik moultin<r, and the testicles of tiie males were 

 swollen. 



South of Touggourt this Lark was common near Hassi Arefidji and to the 

 north of it, as well as southwards to near Ngoussa. This was the sonthemmost 

 place where any Crested Larks were found during our journey, and S|iatz's 

 observations agree with ours. No Crested Larks are found near Ouargla. 



On June 6 these Larks were common at Dinar, 5(J km. south of Touggourt, 

 but the old birds were in such horribly worn plumage that we refrained from 

 collecting more than one. A young bird shot thereon that date is rather interesting, 

 as even in this juvenile age it can be distinguished from the young of Galerida, 

 theklae caroliime (and from those of the various forms of G. cristata) by its paler 

 ccdonr, the blackish s])ots before the whitish tips of the feathers being more 

 restricted and jialer brown. 



These I/arks only inhabit sandy plains, generally, though not always, places 

 where a few flat stones apjiear among the sands. They do not frequent dunes or 

 hammada. 



We collected this year thirteen specimens. There is very little variation in 

 this series. 



On June 11, near El-Alia, we fonnd a nest with two naked young and two 

 addled eggs. They are spotted with pale brown and grey, typical for theklae eggs, 

 and measure 2:? x 18-8 and 23 x 18-5 mm. 



