ARGYA FULVA. 
(ALGERIAN BUSH-BABBLER.) 
Turdus fulous, Desfont. Mém. de l’Acad. Roy. Sc. 1787, p. 498, pl. x1. 
Malurus numidicus, Levaill. jun., Expl. Sc. de ’Alg. Atl. Ois. pl. 9. fig. 1, fide Malh. Faun. 
Orn. de l’Alg. p. 11 (1855). 
Crateropus acacie, Malh, Faun. Orn. de lAlg. p. 18 (1855, nec Riipp.). 
Crateropus fulvus (Desf.), Bp. Cat. Parzud. p. 18. sp. 23 (1856). 
Crateropus numidicus (Lev.), Loche, Cat. Mamm. et Ois. obs. en Alg. p. 75 (1858). 
Figure notabiles. 
Desf. J. c.; Levaill. J. ¢. 
¢ ad. corpore supra rufescenti-isabellino vix brunneo tincto: pilei et dorsi plumis centraliter pallidé brunneo 
notatis: alis et caudd sordidé brunnescenti-isabellinis, remigibus extus pallidé isabellino marginatis : 
mento et gula albis: corpore reliquo subtus pallidé rufescenti-isabellino, abdomine centraliter fere albo : 
rostro nigricanti-corneo: iride fusca: pedibus pallidé brunnescenti-flavis vix viridi tinctis. 
© ad. mari similis. 
Adult Female (Algeria). Upper parts rufous isabelline with a faint brownish tinge, the centre of the 
feathers on the head and back rather darker and browner; wings and tail dull isabelline with a dusty 
brownish tinge, the quills externally margined with pale isabelline; chin and upper throat pure white ; 
rest of the underparts pale warm rufous isabelline, fading to creamy white on the centre of the 
abdomen; bill blackish horn; iris ight brown; legs pale brownish yellow with a faint shade of 
greenish. Total length about 10 inches, culmen 0°9, wing 3°85, tail 5:5, tarsus 1°3. 
Sexes alike. 
Tue range of the present species, like that of its near ally Argya squamiceps, is extremely limited ; 
for it inhabits only North-western Africa, being chiefly met with in Algeria, where Loche says 
that he met with it in the vicinity of Sidi-Maklouf, Laghouat, in the oases of Alica, Ait el 
Chebrok, and various other localities in the Sahara; and Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt-Drake states that he 
met with it between Morocco and Mogador; but M. Favier does not appear to have observed it 
in the northern portions of Tangier. It was first discovered by Desfontaines in Tunis, the 
locality given by him being Cafsa. 
The chief information I can glean respecting the habits and nidification of the present 
species is what has been published by Loche and Canon Tristram. The latter gentleman writes 
(Ibis, 1859, p. 420) as follows:—“ This bird forms one of the features of Saharan ornithology, 
numerous wherever there are trees either wild or cultivated, and as noisy and garrulous as the 
Starling, whom it much resembles in its manner of flight. It flies very straight, with its long 
tail expanded, and is very wary. Often secreting themselves by threes and fours in a shrub, 
3N2 
re) 
