4 
gliding through an adjoining thicket. A few days afterwards, on my return, I observed a nest, 
the only one I ever took, placed in the centre of an arbutus bush, large and coarsely constructed 
of twigs, with a thick lining of wool and hair, and containing four eggs. These were slightly 
larger than those of Lanius excubitor, of a white ground, very thickly covered over the whole 
surface with brown spots, and a few russet-red blotches, somewhat intermediate in character 
between those of the Shrike and the Lark. But for the closeness of the spots and their reddish 
hue, they might easily pass for the eggs of Certhilauda desertorum in my collection.” 
In the neighbouring country of Tangier, Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt Drake says, the present species 
was “not rare, but very shy. To be found chiefly in the cane-hedges.” Major Irby has also 
kindly sent us a note on the bird as observed by him in the same country. “I have taken the 
nest, with three eggs slightly sat on, on the 25th of April. They frequent very thick brush- 
wood, and keep as much as possible out of sight. When flying, the red of the wings shows very 
much; and they are an easy species to recognize after having once seen one alive. M. Favier 
says that three eggs is the usual number, that they nest twice a year, and that their note isa 
peculiar whistle, much resembling that of Zurdus merula.” 
In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens :— 
E Mus. Sharpe and Dresser. 
a. Algeria (Fairmaire). 6. Algiers Market (J. H. Gurney). c. Garbia, W. Morocco, April 26th, 1871 
(L. H. Irby). 
E Mus. Rk. B. Sharpe. 
a. South Africa (Verreaux). 6,c. HKland’s post, S.-E. Africa, May 28th and June, 1870 (7. Atmore). 
E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 
a, 3. Koleah, May 5th, 1856 (H. B. T.). 6. Alger, September 1856 (H. B. T.). 
