3 
Africa, and spends some time of the year in the south-eastern portion of that continent. Accord- 
ing to Canon Tristram’s statement, however, it is only found in Algeria during the summer 
months, at precisely the same time that Mr. Atmore shows it to be in South Africa: and hence 
arises a question of considerable interest; for if we suppose that the original 7'schagra was the 
present small resident species which is found over the entire continent, it must have penetrated 
to Algeria under the same circumstances and in the same manner as Pycnonotus barbatus, and 
similar causes acting on the birds in two entirely different localities must have produced the 
large species which now exists in Northern and South-eastern Africa respectively. 
Loche states that “the Tschagra is common in Algeria, frequenting bushy localities, where it 
runs about with great rapidity in search of its food, which consists of caterpillars, worms, spiders, 
larvee, and all sorts of insects. It seldom takes to the wing, and runs oftener than it flies from 
one bush to another. When pursued it hides, and is difficult to flush when it has once been 
made to rise. Its song, or rather whistle, is an oft-repeated, sweet, and prolonged note, and 
bears no resemblance to the note of a Laniws. Its nest is placed on a bush or low tree, is large 
and bulky, composed of roots and twigs, and lined with feathers. The eggs, five or six in 
number, are somewhat pyriform and stout, the ground-colour being dirty white, and covered 
with small brown-red and grey spots, often collected at the large end, and thus forming a ring. 
They measure 24 by 18 millimetres. Although wild, it soon becomes quiet in captivity, but 
cannot be put in the same cage with other birds, as it kills them. It is easily fed with meat cut 
into small pieces, worms, and chopped liver.” Dr. L. Taczanowski informs us that he “found 
it everywhere in Algeria during the winter, frequenting the forests near the coast, but nowhere 
numerous. It differs from the other Shrikes in hiding itself in the thickets, where it utters loud 
cries. In the spring I first heard it sing on the 5th of April; and its song is far better than that 
of the Long-billed Desert-Lark.” Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., in his paper on the ornithology of 
Algeria, gives the accompanying note :—“‘ Has a wavering, uncertain flight. Its powers of wing 
are probably very limited. The least breath of wind blows up its long tail; hence it generally 
keeps close to the ground. It perches in a feeble manner, as if its legs could not support it. 
The only one I shot was on the 6th of February as it flew from a small, but thickly matted, bush 
near the sea, far away from any trees. ‘The previous fortnight there had been several in the 
poultry-market at Algiers.” 
The following interesting note is taken from Canon Tristram’s essay in ‘The Ibis,’ on the 
birds of Algeria:—“ Sitting across my pack-saddle, I had just missed a snap shot at a rabbit, 
when a strange scream from a matted lentisk bush arrested me—‘ Tschdgra, Tschdqra, chugra, 
chrug!’ most inharmoniously repeated. I dismounted, approached, but could not see the hidden 
vocalist, though I struck the bush several times; at length a stone dislodged him, and I brought 
him down ere he had reached the next clump. It was a fine male specimen of Telephonus 
cucullatus, or Tschagra, aptly so named, and was the first I had ever seen. He is a beautiful 
bird in flight, his rich chestnut wings prettily contrasting with his long expanded fan-like tail 
of jet black with a broad white bar at its extremity. In his habits he differs much from 
other Shrikes, never showing himself, as they do, on the extremity of a branch, or in an 
exposed tree, but always concealed in the thickest recesses. ‘Heard, not seen, is his motto. 
I looked in vain for the nest, which was probably in the neighbourhood, as I saw another bird 
DH 2 
42 
D 
