Mr. J. J. S. Wliitaker on some Timisian Birds. 93 



far north o£ the desert border. I found it near Gafsa, Mides, 

 and Negrine, but obtained only a couple of specimens. I 

 never saw it except singly. When flying it is rather a con- 

 spicuous bird from the distinct marking of its wings, the 

 more apparent as it flies low and close to the ground. 



28. Alauda cristata. 



This was quite the commonest Lark in the north part of 

 the country I visited, further south its place being taken by 

 A. macrorhyncha. I found A. cristata very abundant at Kasrin 

 the end of February and early part of March, and always in 

 pairs. In its general habits and in its song it resembles our 

 European bird to a great extent, although I do not remember 

 to have noticed it soaring very high, and I sometimes saw it 

 perching and singing on a bush or low shrub. 



29. Alauda macrorhyncha. 



Tristram's Lark I consider as a very good species, for 

 although individuals of this bird may differ to a certain 

 extent among themselves, there is always a very wide gap 

 between them and the preceding species. 



As I have just said, A. macrorhyncha seems to replace 

 A. cristata in the south of the Regency, being quite the com- 

 monest Lark in the southern districts I visited. I met with it 

 constantly after nearing Gafsa, and particularly on and in the 

 neighbourhood of mountains, which it seems to prefer to the 

 plains. I always found it in pairs — this was at the beginning 

 and middle of March — and I obtained several specimens, 

 both male and female. 



30. Ammomanes deserti. 



I found this Lark also fairly widely distributed in Southern 

 Tunisia, although nowhere very abundant, and always either 

 on or in the immediate vicinity of mountains, like the pre- 

 ceding species. I met with it first near Gafsa, and subse- 

 quently throughout my journey till within about 30 miles of 

 Feriana. Its delicate plumage accords admirably in colour 

 with the sandy soil and arid rocks of the desert mountains. 



