Ornithology of Northern Africa. 159 
birds seem as little inclined for assimilation as the wingless 
roamers over these wastes. 
If, then, we assume North Africa to terminate where the last 
traces of vegetation disappear in the desert, we shall find but 
14 Algerian non-European species recorded. These are— 
Aquila ncevioides. 
Buteo tachardus . 
Falco punicus. 
Hypotriorchis concolor. 
Pica mauritanica. 
Garrulus cervicalis. 
Fringilla spodiogenia. 
Ruticilla moussieri. 
Chloropeta pallida. 
Parus ultramarinus. 
Pa7'us ledouci. 
Lanius algeriensis. 
Gecinus vaillantii. 
Picus numidicus. 
Microcarbo algeriensis. 
Of these, Falco punicus is said to have gained a claim to the 
European list, having been shot in Malta by Col. H. M. Drum¬ 
mond. Picus numidicus there seems fair authority for believing 
to occur not unfrequently in the cork forests of Andalusia. Frin¬ 
gilla spodiogenia can scarcely be considered as more than a local, 
but constant, variety of Fr . ccelebs. Lanius algeriensis is, if not 
identical, at least closely allied to L. meridionalis. Gecinus 
vaillantii differs very slightly from our common Gecinus viridis , 
and may be only a local variety. Microcarbo algeriensis is hardly 
to be distinguished from Microcarbo pygmeeus; and Chloropeta 
pallida , a species recognized by Prince Bonaparte, with all due 
deference to so great an authority, seems to me to be separated 
for no solid reason from the Sylvia elaica of Temminck. Prince 
Bonaparte makes the difference to consist only in its smaller 
size, but I have obtained specimens fully equalling the recorded 
measurements of S. elaica; and I cannot help believing that a 
more careful examination will eliminate this species, as it has 
Sylvia familiaris , now admitted to be identical with Sylvia ga- 
lactotes. Hypotriorchis concolor is given by Captain Loche as 
occurring in the province of Constantine, but no specimen exists 
in the Algerian collection. Captain Loche has never seen one 
himself; and as Falco eleonorce is not uncommon there, it seems 
most probable that this bird, in its fine uniform black plumage, 
has done duty with some French collector for F. concolor. 
