Ornithological explorations in Algeria

Abstract

By the HON. W. KOTHSCHILD, Ph.D., and E. HARTERT, Ph.D. (Plates IX.-XI., XV.-XXVI.) I. INTRODUCTION.THE followiug pages embody the ornithologioal results of three visits to Algeria, dariug the years 1908, 1000, and 1911. In 1908 we left England on February 12, and on the morning of the following day reached Marseilles, on a cold and frosty morning, out of which a bright sun arose on an immaculate bine sky : e.xceedingly beautiful to ns, after weeks of dull, dark English winter days. Consequently our spirits were high when we steamed through tlie picturesque harbour and bay, in anticipation of a beautiful, line passage. Unfortunately onr hopes were not fulfilled, for during the night, near the Balearic Isles, we encountered a strong wind and heavy seas, and when we arrived off Algiers we had " had ipiite enough of it," and Algiers itself did not present the often-deserilied '' vue ravissanto " which it frequently offers, as it was more or less covered with clouds (Pi. XV., top).Fonr days we stayed at Algiers, enjoying beautiful weather, observing the usual birds inhabiting the gardens, the " Bois," and woods in the neighbourhood, catching a few /.ijqaeiia ahjira and moths, and getting shooting-licences, a (|uite ceremonious and tedious affair, but necessary in order to avoid troubles and to buy powder, which one cannot get for money unless one holds a licence.On the 19th we left for Biskra by the night train, reaching EI Guerrah in the morning. The sun was brilliant, and from the train we saw on the bare fields and meadows Plovers {Vanellns), White Storks, Ravens, Larks and innumerable Sparrows. Near tiie station called " Les Lacs " a wide expanse of flat water was seen, on it many ducks, a few gulls, and far away on the other side hundreds and liundreds of Flamingoes I At last Biskra was reached, where we found coml'ortable rooms in the Hotel Victoria (PI. XIX., toj)).We stayed in that now so well known tourists' oasis, with a tour to Batna and another to El Kantara in between, until tlie end of April, and obtained a splendid first knowledge of the ornis of the northern portion of the Algerian Sahara. Biskra is a most convenient place for that purpose. One can stay in more or less comfortable hotels, and can get carriages and horses to drive and ride, and the neighbourhood is very interesting. Within a day's excursion one can climb the wild and bare rocky hills forming, so to say, the northern lioundary of the real desert, can become acquainted with the ornis of the oasis of date-palms, or visit the plain of El Outaya with fields and gardens, or get a glimpse of the real desert, many dry clayey stretches, real sand-dunes near Oumash, stony desert close to the town and again immediately south of Bordj Saada, patches of sebcha or salt-desert, as well as the banks and beds of desert-streams, the Oued Biskra and Oued Djeddi, especially rich in migrants of many kinds. * The uume cantillans is earlier than mbalp'tna, aad rtfera to this Sijecies, not to the UartfoiU Waiblei'j us crrouuously suppofrcU by ilichiiiuiiU.

Genetic admixture despite ecological segregation in a North African sparrow hybrid zone (Aves, Passeriformes, Passer domesticus × Passer hispaniolensis)

“…Indeed, we could document novel trait variation in Algerian Spanish sparrows having an intensely black crown (Figure G). That color variation does not occur elsewhere across the breeding range of P. hispaniolensis (Cramp & Perrins, ), but has been documented already by Rothschild and Hartert () in Algeria. So that particular variant of black‐crowned Spanish sparrows has now persisted in the North African mosaic hybrid zone for at least roughly a hundred years.…”

“…First, the North African mosaic hybrid zone is considered a very recent phenomenon (Cramp & Perrins, : p. 320). Early historical field explorations suggested a recent eastward colonization of the Maghreb by the house sparrow during the 2nd half of the 19th century when house sparrows were still absent in many parts of Algeria (extensive review in Glutz von Blotzheim & Bauer, : p. 42; Heim de Balsac & Mayaud, : p. 390/391; Rothschild & Hartert, ). Further eastward expansion of the mosaic hybrid zone has been documented when hybrid populations dispersed to previously unsettled parts of Algeria east of 2°E and Tunisia from the first decades of the 20th century (Summers‐Smith & Vernon, ).…”

“…In previous studies, phenotypic diagnosis of the house sparrow, Spanish sparrow, and the Italian sparrow has mainly relied on male plumage color patterns mostly of the crown, the cheek, and the back (Bailey et al, ; Hermansen et al, ; Runemark, Bailey, Bache‐Mathiesen, & Sætre, ). Compared to Italian sparrow populations, Rothschild and Hartert () described a great phenotypic diversity of North African sparrow populations and distinguished 20 different head color patterns. For this study, we based individual classification of phenotypes on six phenotypic traits (crown, neck, cheek, breast, flanks, and back; as done by Belkacem et al, ).…”

“…First, the North African mosaic hybrid zone is considered a very recent phenomenon (Cramp & Perrins, 1994: p. 320 Mayaud, 1962: p. 390/391;Rothschild & Hartert, 1912). Third, the unique spatial distribution pattern of North African sparrow populations might offer an alternative explanation.…”

Type Specimens of Birds in the American Museum of Natural History. Part 5. Passeriformes: Alaudidae, Hirundinidae, Motacillidae, Campephagidae, Pycnonotidae, Irenidae, Laniidae, Vangidae, Bombycillidae, Dulidae, Cinclidae, Troglodytidae, and Mimidae

“…Galerida theklae hilgerti Rothschild and Hartert, 1912a: 492 (El Kantara). Now Galerida malabarica superflua Hartert, 1897.…”