433 
Ornithology of Northern Africa . 
phocoris clot-bey have been developed out of any known Eu¬ 
ropean form, or that we are to presume so far to limit Creative 
Power as to endeavour to explain the growth of Desert species uni¬ 
versally by the development of individual peculiarities. Wherever 
may have been the centre whence they sprung, undoubtedly there 
are many creatures to be found there which could not have been 
developed by any conceivable process from other known races. 
But whilst it is contrary alike to sound philosophy and to Chris¬ 
tian faith to doubt the creation of many species by the simple 
exercise of Almighty volition, still, knowing that God ordinarily 
works by natural means, it might be the presumption of an 
unnecessary miracle to assume a distinct and separate origin for 
many of those which we term species. We may speculate on 
the question for a life-time; this conclusion alone so far is cer¬ 
tain,—that every peculiarity or difference in the living inhabit¬ 
ants of each country is admirably adapted by the wisdom of 
their beneficent Creator for the support and preservation of the 
species. 
89. Lanius dealbatus, De Pilippi: Bp. Rev. Zool. 1853, 
p. 293. “ Boorass” Arab. (The Pallid Shrike.) 
While its numerous congeners who resort to the coast of 
North Africa are all migrants, the Pallid Shrike, which never 
transgresses the northern limits of the Desert, remains a per¬ 
manent resident, breeding very early not only in the trees of 
the oases, but in the low jujubes and prickly shrubs of the 
dayats. Its nest and eggs in no way differ from those of the 
Great Grey Shrike, which it much resembles in size and gene¬ 
ral appearance. It is a remarkably fearless bird, and will remain 
calmly perched on the outmost edge of a palm leaf while a party 
is sitting and talking beneath the shade of the tree. It is ex¬ 
tremely abundant in all the oases, and its plaintive cry may be 
heard in every dayat. I once saw one feasting on an impaled 
Dartford Warbler, but its usual food appears to be the large 
Baps which swarms in myriads through the dayats and weds. 
Under the old nests at least a bushel of beetle wings might 
be collected, and the insects hang impaled on every jujube thorn 
around. This is not a solitary bird, though hardly gregarious, 
but three or four may generally be found not far apart. It is 
VOL. i. 2 H 
