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these birds remain closely concealed, till at the pursuer’s near approach they silently steal away 
close to the ground to the next bush. ‘They are generally in companies of seven or eight. 
Invariably do they alight at the foot of the tree or bush, and then noiselessly creep up to the 
very top, descending in line on the other side, except one sentinel, who remains perched on the 
topmost bough to give the alarm of danger. Often as I have watched them, I never saw them 
omit this precaution. The note is very peculiar—chur-chur-r-r, wheer-wheer-wheer. ‘The nest 
is a loose fabric of sticks and fine roots and straws; and I was told by the Arabs that they lay a 
blue egg, which Captain Loche has since had forwarded to him, and of which I have received a 
specimen. ‘They are considered good eating by the French Spahi officers, and have wonderful 
medicinal qualities according to the Arab Hakeems. I found the flesh bitter and dry. The 
sexes are alike in plumage. On dissection I have found the gizzard filled indiscriminately with 
beetles and seeds.” 
Loche says that it is only met with in the southern portion of Algeria, where it frequents 
the oases, in which it finds its food, which consists of insects, seeds, and small berries. It is 
sprightly in its habits, and runs more than it flies, and retreats when pursued by running from 
one bush to the other. It only perches on low bushes; and its flight is short and jerky. It is 
usually found in flocks of seven to ten individuals, is noisy and restless; and its song is a plaintive 
and often repeated whistle. It nests close to the ground, on bushes; and its nest is large and 
somewhat carelessly built of grass-bents and a few roots, and lined with a little wool and a few 
feathers. Its eggs, three or four in number, are clear azure-blue, unspotted, and measure about 
24 millims. by 19 millims. 
The specimen figured, on the same Plate with Argya squamiceps, is an adult bird from 
Algeria in my own collection. 
In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— 
E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 
a, Q. Algeria (Fairmaire). 
E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 
a, 2. Laghouat, November 18th, 1856. 6, ¢. Blad el Amer, Algeria, December 24th, 1856 (H. B. T.). 
E Mus. J. H. Gurney, jun. 
a¢d,b,@. Algerian Sahara, April 26th, 1870 (J. H. G., jun.). 
