The Zoologist— May, 1871. 2577 



reason of tliis being that a Bonelli eagle suddenly dropped down 

 from above, killing the houbara in an instant. In such cases one 

 of these birds will allow a rider to approach almost close to him, 

 but he is more shy towards those on foot. 



A. pennatn, Cuv. — Seen rather frequently in the neighbourhood 

 of Lake Fezzara, being seldom met with in other parts of the 

 mountainous country during this season. 



Pandion haliceetos, Cuv. — In April I saw a pair near Philippe- 

 ville : they appeared as if they were about to nest in a neighbouring 

 cliff, as they were continually resorting thither. 



Bitteo tachardus, Viell. — Common in mountainous regions near 

 Constantine, in Balna and in Bonarif. Loche, in his List, mentions 

 Buteo vulgaris, which species I have never been able to find, all 

 the individuals which I saw belonging, without exception, to the 

 African form. 



B. rvjinus, Kaup. (Buteo leucurus, Naum., Buteo cirtensis, 

 Leraill.) — In the same districts as the foregoing, but less numerous. 

 All that I saw were smaller than the Asiatic birds. 



Milvus regalis, Briss. — First seen, in passing flight, in February 

 and the beginning of March. 



M. niger, Briss. — Common during the winter on Lake Fezzara. 

 We came across it also in many other parts. 



Elan us melanopterus, Bp. — Observed singly on the coast be- 

 tween Philippeville and Bone in December. Like the hen harrier, 

 he is fond of flying over the fields, though usually at a greater 

 altitude. He often perches on the tops of detached trees and on 

 the telegraph-posts. In the interior I did not see a single individual 

 during the season. 



Falco communis, Briss. — To be met with in mountains and on 

 the borders of the Sahara, but everywhere rare. 



F. barbarus, L. — The commonest of all the falcons in the moun- 

 tains as well as in the desert. This species is employed by the 

 Arabs in the chase. They catch him easily, b}^ means of a net 

 constructed of packthread and horsehair. As soon as a falcon is 

 descried they throw towards him a pigeon attached to such a net 

 and weighted with a stone, so that he cannot fly too far : the falcon 

 pounces upon this prey, and so entangles himself in the meshes of 

 the net that he is unable to escape. These falcons are generally 

 trained to the chase with no special care ; they are, moreover, I am 

 convinced, little adapted for it ; even the peregrine falcon would be 



