2580 The Zoologist — Mav, 1871. 



a few red feathers on the cheek. Two other local species of wood- 

 pecker, Picus numidicus and P. minor, we could never reach, not- 

 withstanding that we watched them closely ; the same with respect 

 to the nuthatch, although we visited the greatest variety of woods 

 which are to be found in this country, such as pine, cedar, oak and 

 mixed forests. They are evidently rare, for it is difficult to avoid 

 noticing such noisy birds. I was shown the first of these two 

 species in private collections in Constantine, and was assured that 

 it was taken in the neighbourhood. 



Alcedo ispida, L. — As with us, not numerous, but to be found 

 everywhere about brooks. 



Certhia familiaris, L. — Not plentiful, but might be seen uni- 

 versally in pine and cedar forests. The upper side of this bird is 

 of a dark rust-colour, like our European form, the under side being 

 strongly marked, as in the latter, with the same rusty hue. I give 

 below the dimensions of two specimens from the neighbourhood o. 

 Balna : — 



Par IIS major, L. — Found universally in the Tell and in the desert. 



P. Ledoucii, Malh.* — Only in pine forests. The habits and the 

 voice of this bird are similar to our P. ater. 



Cyanistes iiltramarhius, Bp. — Everywhere the commonest of 

 the titmice, it has a different voice from ours (C. ca3ruleus). 



Ramphocoris Clot-hey, Bp. — I fell in with only three during the 

 whole season ; one in January, close to the Oasis Tolga, and 

 a pair in March near the Oasis Seriana: I killed two males from 

 among them. This bird is not very shy, for, if scared away from 

 his resting-place, he will perch again not far off. 



Melanocorypha calandra, Boie. — Very common in cultivated 

 fields of the hill-country, as well as in the desert, on fields round 

 about the oases: less numerous in the districts lying near the sea, 

 and about broad pasture-grounds near Lake Fezzara. They always 

 kept in large flocks, and seemed in general to be rather shy. In 

 Match they had not yet separated themselves from their flocks, but 

 the males were beginning to fly high and sing. 



♦ Parus Ledoucii is figured in the ' Ibis,' 3rd series, No. 1. — /. H. G.,jun. 



