The Zoologist— May, 1871. 2583 



Each of these forms presents some distinguishing peculiarities of 

 habit: some might even be recognised by their note; thus, for 

 instance, at the commencement of our excursions into the environs 

 of Ajmokra, I fancied I could perceive some resemblance to the 

 note of Carpodacus erythreus. It has already been noted on 

 another page how varied are the crested larks even in the region 

 of Northern Africa : it would be interesting to collect together 

 and compare with one another not only all the African, but 

 also the European and Asiatic forms which are found on the sea 

 coast. 



Certhilauda desertorum, Bp. — We saw these birds one at a time 

 on bushy sand-hills in the desert. When one of them is frightened 

 away he most frequently settles on the highest part of the bush, 

 and, hopping oflf directly after, runs away so quickly that, in most 

 cases, he cannot be further traced. On the lOth of March the males 

 began to sing : their singing is peculiar, but it is decidedly the best 

 to be heard in those parts. During the intervals of his song the 

 bird raises himself some fifty feet high, sounds three consecutive 

 notes of the gamut, repeating these three times, each clearer and 

 louder than the preceding, and finishing with a shake: he then flies 

 down and perches upon a bush. As 1 listened to this song for the 

 first time my curiosity was not a little excited. 



Octocoris bilopha, Bp. — Once only I saw, close to the Oasis 

 Tolga, a flock consisting of eight of these birds : they were seeking 

 for food in a valley grown over with small plants, in the midst of 

 the stony desert : they were so tame that I killed six, one after 

 another; the rest, which, after the shot, flew off to a distance of 

 about one hundred paces, soon settled again, and we were able 

 to approach them within gunshot three times. I was sorry that 

 the remaining birds were killed ; but, although I allowed the 

 young Arabs to shoot, I have the birds in a good state of 

 preservation. 



Agrodroma campestris, Bp. — Met with in small numbers on 

 slight eminences. 



Anthus pratensis, Bernst. — Everywhere common about pieces 

 of water. 



A. cervinns. Keys, et Bias. — Frequently seen, in company with 

 flocks of the last-named species, on Lake Fezzara. 



A. aqualicus, Bechst. — Seen many times near Biskra, in river- 

 puddles. 



