The Zoologist — May, 1871. 2587 



On one's approaching them, to within a certain distance : as they 

 shriek incessantly, however, ihey at ouce betray the spot where 

 they have settled. On the 5th of April I heard them singing for 

 the first time : in respect of their song these birds are superior to 

 the longbeaked lark. 



Enneoctonus ruftis, Bp. — We first met with them during the last 

 few days of the month of March. 



Lanius AlgerietisiSfljess. — Very common upon an extensive plain 

 by Lake Fezzara. We found it in corresponding localities on 

 the southern slope of the Atlas. It is not so shy as our shrike, 

 whilst, like that species, it impales insects on thorns. 



Z. dealhalus, Defilippi. — This species takes the place of the 

 preceding on the southern slope of the Atlas and in the desert. Its 

 habits are exactly the same as those of the last-named bird. 



Garrulus cervicalis, Bp. — Tolerably common in the forests of 

 the hill-country : it is a shy bird, and not so talkative as our jay. 



Pica Mauritanica, Malh. — Like the European species, common 

 in isolated spots, whilst in others, on the contrary, it is never to be 

 met with. I saw the greatest number of these birds in Bonarif 

 and in the Aures, fewer round about Batna. They are shy, keeping 

 mostly in bushes, and seldom approaching human habitations. 



Lycos monedula,Bo\e. — Very numerous round about Constantine. 

 Some of those seen were (quite) black; one was whitish. 



Corviis sp. — In Loche's Catalogue C. corax and C. corone are 

 given, but I did not see either of these species; on the contrary, 

 I found in large numbers, on the heights between Ghelraa and 

 Constantine, round about Batna and Elkantara, in Biskra, and 

 universally throughout the mountainous districts, a species inter- 

 mediate in size between the two above mentioned. This bird, 

 however, has a beak like a raven's, though somewhat shorter; it 

 likewise has a strong rounded tail; the feathers of the neck are 

 bipartite; those covering the nostrils are directed forwards, just as 

 in the European raven, in this respect differing from C. affinis of 

 Riipperl. Its habits are similar to those of our species, although 

 differing in some minor particulars. Being more sociable birds 

 than the latter, they collect in large flocks on fields near towns and 

 on roads : in each such flock, however, every pair of birds keeps 

 distinct from the rest, and flies off in like manner, so far resembling 

 in habit the true ravens. Although they had not yet nested, I was 

 shown several nests, in the neighbourhood of Batna, on a hill 



