2578 The Zoologist — May, 1871. 



much more fit for that purpose. They are used principally for 

 catching hares, houbaras, stone curlews, and occasionally partridges. 

 They take their prey only on the ground or at the instant of its 

 rising; if a bustard or a plover has already risen he can make sure 

 of escape. In March, when the hunting season is at an end, the 

 falcons are given their liberty, and in September they are again 

 caught as they are wanted. 



HypolriorcJns concolor, Bp. — We saw a few individuals in the 

 woods on our way from Jeminapes to Ajmokra. An old bird was 

 shot in Batna, but the skin was unfortunately destroyed. 



H. subbuteo, Boie. — Seen only once or twice during our stay. 



H. (Bsalon, Boie. — I once saw an adult male in Mahuna about 

 the middle of December. 



Tinnunculus alaiidariiis, Bp. — Everywhere common, in the Tell 

 and on the borders of the desert. 



7'. cenchris, Bp. — I saw an old male bird for several days 

 together in Ajmokra. Loche mentions Southern Algeria as the 

 temporary habitat of this bird, but 1 met with it exclusively iu the 

 north. 



AccipUer nisus, Pall. — Rarely to be met with in the forests of 

 the mountainous country. 1 saw a pair iu Aures, about the middle 

 of March, busy restoring an old nest. 



Circus (eruginosus, Bp. — Found everywhere about water and 

 marshes. 



Siriyiceps cyaneus, Bp. — Common in the Tell and in the desert. 



S. cineraceus, Bp. — Much rarer than the last species. 



Athene meridionalis, Risso. — The most common owl in the 

 mountains and in the desert: these owls, when met with in the 

 deserl, are generally lighter in colour than those seen on the 

 coast. 



Scops zorca, Sws. — 1 saw only a single example in a wood near 

 Ajmokra. 



Ascalaphia Saviynyi, Geoff. — Difficult to be met with this 

 season: we obtained one specimen at Biskra. 



Bubo Alheniensis, Daud. — We did not meet with one of these 

 birds; but I saw a freshly-stuffed specimen at the Town-Com- 

 mandant's iu Biskra : it is not in any way to be distinguished from 

 our species. 



Brachyotus paluslris, Gould. — Met with everywhere, especially 

 in the desert: they are only seen one at a time. As we were 



