94 Mr. J. J. S. Wliitaker on some Tunisian Birds. 



31. Calandrella brachydactyla. 



This little Lark I found abundant between Gafsa and 

 Tamerza, about tlie middle of March, in large flocks on the 

 scrub-plains. I did not notice it further north. 



32. Calandrella minor. 



The only specimen I obtained of this Lark was one that I 

 picked up dead on the road from Kasrin to Feriana. It had 

 probably flown against the telegraph-wires running alongside 

 of this road, 



33. Melanocorypha calandra. 



This Lark was plentiful about Kasrin in large flocks, 

 feeding on the cultivated land, and I secured several speci- 

 mens, male and female. I did not find it south of Feriana. 



34 & 35. Sturnus vulgaris and Sturnus unicolor. 



I saw Starlings on two occasions only, once at the begin- 

 ning of March near Kasrin, and once at the end of March 

 near Tebessa, but not having obtained any specimens, 1 was 

 unable to determine the species ; at the time, however, I 

 thought that those I saw near Kasrin were S. vulgaris, and 

 those I saw near Tebessa S. unicolor. According to Dr. 

 Koenig the latter breeds abundantly in the neighbourhood 

 of Monastir, while the former is probably only a winter 

 visitor in the Regency. 



36. Pica mauritanica. 



1 only saw the Algerian Magpie once or twice during my 

 journey, on the plains between Feriana and Gafsa, where 

 there were some patches of cultivated land and thorn-bushes, 

 and I failed to obtain a specimen. It is evidently not what 

 one Avould call a common bird in the south, and being as shy 

 and wary as its Euiopean cousin, it is difficult to obtain. I 

 believe, however, it is commoner in the north of the Regency, 

 as I have myself on more than one occasion seen it from the 

 railway-line between Tunis and Bona, and I have often seen 

 dead Magpies for sale in the Tunis game-market ! In its 

 general habits and its nesting it seems to resemble our Euro- 

 pean bird ; in size, however, it is rather smaller, and of course 

 has the distinctive blue patch behind the eye. 



