THE BIRDS OF ALGERIA. 9 



to breed on the northern plains of the Dayats. 

 Nothing can exceed the beauty of these oases in 

 spring, when they literally swarm with birds and 

 resound with song. One very remarkable feature 

 is the general lateness of the breeding season in 

 Algeria, a phenomenon which I believe is also 

 peculiar to the valley of the Danube, and which 

 may be attributed to the long spell of spring-like 

 weather prevailing in these areas. Birds are in no 

 hurry to commence nesting. Even such early 

 species as Chaffinches and Larks I found had only 

 just commenced laying at the middle of May, and 

 the House Martins were only building nearly a 

 fortnight later still. The Vultures, Ravens, and 

 some few other species breed much earlier, however, 

 and their young were reared by that date. 



We will now proceed to tabulate the various 

 species that are found in the country, and to give 

 a few particulars concerning each. Want of space, 

 however, prevents this portion of the subject from 

 being treated in any very elaborate or detailed 

 manner. 



i. THE OSTRICH Strutkio camelus, Linnaeus, is an 

 inhabitant of the vast plains of the southern desert, 

 but thinly dispersed, and said to be rapidly becoming 

 rarer. This species is gregarious in its habits, living 



