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which he kindly presented to me. As might have been expected, the eggs differ much from the 

 typical characteristics of the Lark. They are very round, 9J lines by 8, of a soiled white colour, 

 with pale brown blotches sparsely scattered over the surface, bearing a strong resemblance to 

 small varieties of Lanius excubitor, but with an ivory polished surface." Loche, who probably 

 had better opportunities of observing this bird than any collector who has explored in those 

 parts, writes that " Dupont's Lark is found in the Sahara of Algeria, where it frequents open 

 places, and feeds on insects and seeds. Its song is agreeable ; and it sings usually early in the 

 morning (at daybreak), and in the evening at sunset ; it runs rapidly, and its flight is strong ; it is 

 to be met with singly or in small families, never in large flocks, and is shy and most difficult to 

 approach. Its nest is placed on the ground in the sand, and is shallow ; the eggs, four in 

 number, are whitish, spotted and marked with reddish ; in size they measure about 23 by 17 

 millimetres." In Dresser's collection are two eggs of this Lark, obtained from Loche, which tally 

 well with Canon Tristram's description and comparison with the eggs of Lanius excubitor, being 

 dull white, spotted all over with hair-brown ; but in both these eggs the spots are collected at and 

 form a ring round the larger end. In size they measure ff by f^ and f^ by f^ of an inch 

 respectively. 



The specimen described and figured is one of Loche's skins, obtained through Mr. E. 

 Fairmaire, of Paris, and is now in Dresser's collection. 



In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E Dresser, 

 a, b, c. Algerian Sahara {Loche). 



