128 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



call-note (it is also sometimes uttered by the bird as it flies), 

 which is a peculiarly sweet "kay see sweet weet" or " sweet-a- 

 weet." The Crested Lark also has a low croaking note — " quirk " 

 — uttered when it is frequently alarmed. 



The Swallow (Tlirundo rustica) was fairly common. 



I think the most abundant bird in the valley was the Gold- 

 finch (Carduelis elegans) ; even in the height of the breeding 

 season, dozens could be seen together, feeding among the great 

 beds of thistles, or washing in the shallow water, and often pre- 

 senting a sight to delight the heart of a naturalist. These 

 African birds are rather small and dark, yet brilliant ; the yellow 

 is very bright, the black intense, and the red a fine deep crimson ; 

 they are unlike our small dusky resident race, on the one hand, 

 and the large light-coloured birds which visit us for the breeding 

 season, on the other. 



The Serin (Serinus hortalanus) I do not remember actually 

 seeing in this part of the valley, but it is doubtless to be found, 

 in small numbers only, as it prefers taller shrubs or trees. 



The Linnet (Linota cannabina) I used to see on the hillsides, 

 and the Greenfinch (Ligurinus aurantiiventris), a brighter bird 

 than ours, with a similar song, in the olive thickets. There, too, 

 and by the river, the handsome Algerian Chaffinch (Fringilla 

 spodiogena) was found commonly. Its alarm-note is " twick," 

 not "twink," like that of our bird, i.e. not so metallic or ringing; 

 the " whit," too, is a little different ; the ordinary note is slightly 

 harsh and Sparrow-like. Its song, perhaps, is " cheese cheese 

 cheese chiderideredee," differing from that of our bird in the 

 first part. But as it is well known that the song of F. coelebs 

 varies a little in different localities, perhaps not much importance 

 attaches to this modification. 



There being little corn, and few douars, the Spanish Spar- 

 row (Passer hispaniolensis) was not often seen, though I know 

 this bird will take up its abode in a wood if there are big 

 batoum trees, with holes, in it, not too distant from the corn- 

 patches. 



The Rock Sparrow {Petronia stalta) also I very seldom saw, for 

 there did not happen to be a rocky precipice, such as this bird 

 loves to haunt in the breeding season, within the limits of my 

 walks. The Rock Sparrow's call-note somewhat resembles that 

 of the Greenfinch, but is more squeaky. 



