104 



occurring far north of the Sahara. During my recent journey in Southern Tunisia I met with it 

 only on the plains to the west of Gafsa, and there but sparingly. In the Algerian Sahara, 

 however, and within a few miles of Biskra, I found it more plentiful, and my friends who visited 

 the country south of the Chott Djerid also met with it constantly. It is a shy, timid little bird, 

 and on the approach of danger hides in the middle of some scrub-bush, from which it is not 

 easily dislodged. I generally found it in pairs, and, judging from the condition of specimens 

 obtained in the early part of April, it was then breeding." 



Dr. A. Koenig informs me that " the nest of this bird is placed in a desert bush, usually in 

 one of the thorn-bushes, and is artistically constructed, nearly round, domed, with a round 

 entrance-hole in the side. The average measurements are : — outer circumference 40 cm., 

 diameter 12 cm., depth of the interior 7 cm., diameter of the entrance 3 cm. In general 

 appearance the nest resembles that of the Wren. The eggs are white with a dull gloss, and 

 are dotted and blotched with deep red, the markings being more numerous round the larger 

 end, and there are also a few pale lilac ground-markings. The eggs also somewhat resemble 

 those of the Wren, more particularly those which are more richly marked, whereas those which 

 are more sparsely spotted resemble those of the Titmice." 



In my collection I have a clutch of four eggs of this bird, received from Major Loche, which 

 are white, boldly marked with red blotches and spots, which are larger and more numerous 

 round the larger end. In size and shape they resemble the eggs of the Crested Titmouse, but 

 are much more boldly and richly marked than any Titmouse egg in my collection. In size they 

 vary from 0"64 by 0"48 to 0-67 by 0-52 inch. 



The specimen figured and described is in my own collection. 



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



E Mus. II. E. Dresser. 



a,b, $ . Algerian Sahara (Loche) . 

 a, J 1 ad. Algerian Sahara (Loche). 



E Mus. Brit. 



E Mus. W. Rothschild, 

 a, J . Oued Makroun, Tunis, March 24th, 1892 ; b, $ . Oued Nakhla, Tunis, May 3rd, 1892 (W. H. Spatz). 



