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 15. Galerida theklae carolinae Erl. 



Cf. Nod. Znii], xviii. p. 494. 



On tlie outwaril journey down to Tidikolt we never saw this siibspecies, bnt 

 retnruing northwards to Ghardaia we came across it for the first time on May 25, 

 90 km. sontli of Ghardaia, on the side of an oned with ricli vegetation, ou rocky 

 slopes. In the evening, 75 km. sonth of Ghardaia, young ones were flying about. 

 On the 20th and 27th none were observed, but on the 28th, about 20 km. south 

 of Giiardaia, a few were met with, but they were in such had i)lumage that only 

 one was preserved. After that a few were found on the plateau east of Ghardaia, 

 about 25 km. from that town, and around the Bordj and Hassi Rebib, in the 

 river-bed of the Oned N(,'a, 53 km. from Ghardaia. Some j'oung birds in first 

 plumage were collected, which are distinctly more rufescent than those of 

 G. t. deii'Iileri, with more prominent markings. Our series of this year (only 

 si.x adnlt specimens) varies not very much, and shows clearly, even in the most 

 worn specimens, the reddish tinge of the upperside which characterises this 

 subspecies. 



10. Galerida cristata arenicola Tristr. 



Cf. Ni>K. Znul. xviii. p. 493. 



While going from Biskra to Bordj Saada these Larks were common, and 

 to our astonishment we saw two of them soaring skywards and singing. I said 

 to Hilgert, this mnst be a G. theklae, probably deiclderi, as we had never seen 

 any 6'. cristata doing this ; so we watched one of the males and shot it when it 

 descended to the ground, but it was none other than a typical G. cristata arenicola. 

 This fact shows that our observation of 1900 and I'Jll (cf. Nov. Zool. xviii. 

 p. 489) that only G. theklae sings soaring skywards is not without exceptions. 



We saw G. cristata arenicola several times along the road to Touggourt, 

 and from Touggourt to Bledet-Ahmar, where it was not rare close to the oasis. 

 Farther southwards it did not occur. Worn summer specimens are of coui'se 

 very dark when the pale borders of the feathers arc half gone. 



17. Galerida cristata macrorhyncha Tristr. 

 Cf. Nm: Zn„l. xviii. pp. 489 and 492. 



The only place where we came across long-billed Crested Larks, which we 

 believe to belong to this closely allied race, was a few kilometres east of Guerrara 

 and close to that town. We shot two adult and one young specimens, but the 

 old birds are in such worn plumage that little can be said about them, and exact 

 measurements cannot be taken. Nevertheless we believe them to be macrorhi/ncha, 

 and not arenicola; the male has the wing about 112 (at least), the female 

 102 mm. 



It is strange to find two subspecies as close together as G uerrara and Touggourt 

 to Bledet-Ahmar, but both places are outposts from the priiicii)al strongholds, and 

 (iufU'rara is more or less stony ground, while at Touggourt and Bledet-Ahmar these 

 Larks live on sand. The male from Bledet-Ahmar has tiie wing of nearly I In, 

 the female one of 104 mm., but we consider them nevertheless to belong to 

 arenicola. 



[No Skylarks were se<'n south of Biskra; it seems therefore that they do not 

 range to the real Sahara. < 'f. JSot. Zool. xviii. p. 497.] 



