( 46 ) 

 IS. Alaemon alaudipes alaudipes (Deaf.). 



Cf. Nov. Ziinl. xviii. p. 4il7. 



The Muka of the Arabs is the delight of every traveller in tlie desert, and oft.en 

 have I listened to its plaintive, enchanting, flute-like notes. It is chiefly found 

 ill sand districts, if Ihere is sufficient vegetation, but it adapts itself also to the 

 oneds in the lianiiuada, far avfay from the sands. 



It is very common between Biskra and Touggourt, and from Touggonrt to 

 Uiinrgla. South of Ouargia it is rarer and more local, but extends si)ariMgly down 

 to El-Golea, and near that place, as well as around Hassi Okseibat, south of 

 El-Golea, it is not rare. Farther southwards, and even in tlic Soutiiern Oued-Mya 

 region, it is almost absent, but it was lieard in the latter jilace on April 'M ; and 

 south of Ai'u Gnettara, in the bed of tiie Cued el-Abiodh, on Ajirii 14, one pair was 

 seen and obtained ; others could not be found. 



The male of these southernmost specimens is exeeiitiniially rusty on the 

 ni)|)erside, almost as brown as one from the Cape Verde Islands, while the female 

 is very pale. 



Mnkas were not rare generally between El-Golea and tJhardaia, and from 

 Gliardaia to Touggourt. 



The first yonng ones, tiny cniiturcs uniililc to fly, rnnning swiftly across 

 the scbeha, were .«cen on IMarch ;iil, near El-Golea. Afterwards many young 

 were seen flying about on the plateau east of Ginudiiia. They had liegnn already 

 to moult into the lirst autumn plumage on June 'i and 3. AVhile the blackish 

 anteui)ical cross-markings on the upperside are strongly marked in some, they 

 are rather faint in others, and also the dark spots on the throat are sometimes 

 much more distinct than in others. 



On May \>^ and 22 nests with two eggs each were found north of El-(iolea. 

 The lirst stood in the usual way on top of a bush, the other on the ground, near 

 a .stone, a somewhat uuusual jjositiou. The nests were composed of dry grass 

 and thin twigs, interwoven with sjiider-webs. The eggs measure 24 x 1(5, 

 2:j-7 X 101 and 20 x 111, 2ti-l x l-'i'.i mm., the latter clutch being unnsnally 

 small. 



111. Eremophila (Otocorys) alpestris bilopha (Temm.). 



Cf. iVci!'. Zoiil. .wiii. p. VM. 



Only seen in two ])laces : Kcf-el-Dor, between Hiskra and Touggourt, find in 

 the Mzab country east of Ghardaia as far as about 2.") km. east of (iuerrara. From 

 June 2 to 7 young birds were seen, some beginning already to moult into the first 

 autnmii plumage. The young before the first moult are on the upperside of a 

 reddish isabelliiie, each feather with a tiny pale cream (not white) tip ; the 

 underside is white with a creamy buff band across the chest and a similar tinge on 

 the flanks : there is no black on the juguliiin and foreheatl, so that such birds, 

 if seen running on the ground, do not give the idea of an Eremophila to a 

 casual observer. 



2U. *Anthus trivialis trivialis (L). 



Cf. Nor. Zoiil. xviii. p. 498. 



The Tree Pipit was observed in the Southern Cued Mya during the second 

 week of April, and at In-Salah on April 30, also a single specimen un May 10, 

 south of El-Golea. 



