80 
Recent Discoveries in European Oology. 
Yarrell, and figured as such in the Supplement to his work, from 
a specimen said to have been killed in Oxfordshire. Mr. Tris¬ 
tram says, that although not rare in the wooded districts of 
northern Algeria, its nest had, until last year, eluded the re¬ 
searches of all the French collectors. Various eggs had from 
time to time come into the hands of the Paris dealers, the 
produce of birds in captivity; but these two eggs are, as far as 
I can ascertain, the very first from a bird in a state of nature. 
They were taken by Capt. Loehe, of the French army, in Kobah 
forest, on July 11th, 1857. The nest contained seven eggs, 
nearly fresh. It was placed on the ground in the midst of a 
dense thicket of underwood, most ingeniously concealed, and 
where no dog could penetrate to put up the bird. 
“ It was in such situations that I had frequently before found 
the Hemipode, which never occurs in the plains or in the desert. 
When disturbed, it is scarcely possible to make it take wing. 
When beaten out of a bush, it half runs, half flies, to the nearest 
cover, somewhat after the manner and with much of the ap¬ 
pearance of Bailloffis Crake. I do not believe that it migrates 
in the Atlas, as specimens are occasionally found at all times of 
the year; nor does it appear ever to congregate, either in flocks 
or bevies, after the manner of the Quail, to which, indeed, in all 
its habits it affords a striking contrast. 
“ The female is very much larger and generally more brilliant 
in colouring than the male, and is at least one-third heavier 
than her mate. I was out with Capt. Loche when he discovered 
this nest, of which he kindly allotted me three eggs.” 
Mr. Goi*Jd has figured the two sexes as of equal size, and says 
that it is difficult to distinguish them by their plumage each 
from the other. 
The eggs bear but little resemblance to those of other gallina¬ 
ceous birds. The shell is delicate and thin, and touched with 
a neutral purple tint, which gives them some likeness to those 
of the Pratincole. 
