NOVITATES ZOOLOGICAE XXI. 1914. 183 



Zollikoferia uudicaid/s, Rantheriiun adspersam, Cenfaiirea sphaerocephala, Thrincia 

 tiAerosa, Kentrophijllum lanatum, Echiochylon fruticosum, Ecliium kmnile, Crucia- 

 nella hirta, Teucrium polium, Convolvulus gupinus, Pegai)utn harmala, Fagonia 

 glutiiwsn. Ononis angustissima, Tkgmalea microphijlla, Papacer hjhridum, Parom/- 

 chia argentea, Paronychia longiseta, Scabiosa arenaria., DaucHS puhescens, Ferula, 

 Reseda lufea, Randonia africcuia, Antirrhinum ramosissimum, Morecandiateretifolia, 

 Diplotaxis erucoides, Erodium lacciniatum. 



Ascending the Djebel Aiissa the flora changes. As to the fauna we cannot say 

 mnch, as we met there with cold, rainy weather. Of lejiidoptera we found 

 consequently hardly anything. Of birds we found Erythrospiza gitkaginea sedlitzi 

 going up nearly to the summit, together with Oenanthe leucura syenitica ; we saw 

 flying a Buzzard and Circaetos. Of plants the following species were collected on 

 the Djebel Aissa : Atractylis cancellata, Amherhoa crupi noides, Scorzonera undulata, 

 Filago spathulata var. prostrata, Picridium tingitanum, Anncyclus o/rtolepidioides, 

 Calendula arvensis, Coronilla scorpidides, Asparagus horridus, Asphodelus micro- 

 carpus, Statice thouini, Haloxylum articulatum, Calligomcm co/nosum, Rumex 

 vesicarius, Zollikoferia spinosa, Scabiosa monspeliensis, Silene nwscipula, Euphorbia 

 calyptrata, Heliaiithemum sessifiorum, H. virgatum, Salvia verbanacea, Sideritis 

 Montana, Asteriscus pygmaeus. Reseda jrropiiiqua, Crambe kralickii, Moricandia 

 arvensis, Biscutella raphanifolia, B. lyrata, Eruca sativa, Moricaria prostrata. 



We did not ascend the very highest point of Djebel Ai'ssa, which is rather far 

 away from Ain Sefra, but we only went a little beyond the fortified, now empty and 

 unused, " poste optique," which is only 1(500 metres high, while the highest peak 

 reaches 2256 metres. 



This is perhaps one of the reasons why we found such a very diff'erent lot of 

 plants on Djebel Mekter, which we climbed to its highest point, 2061 metre.s. But 

 for some reasons the flora and fauna — judging from three trips to the Djebel Mekter 

 — are also difierent in less high elevations. On Djebel Mekter we find only low 

 vegetation like that of the rocky steppe and hammada up to about 1.500 metres — not 

 a single tree. 



The rock is reddish sandstone, but great parts are covered with the glossy black 

 desert-patina. In the lower parts the Haifa-grass, Stipa tenacissima, is the principal 

 plant, while in places Zollikoferia spinosa rules. Both species disappear between 

 1300 and 1.500 metres. Above that altitude bushes and trees put in an appearance: 

 Junipers {Juniperus phoenicea from 130(1, J. oxycedrus from about 1700 metres), 

 Quercus ballota (1700-2000), Rosemary (from 1450), some Pistacia-trees, Oleander 

 in sheltered places of the streams, and many curious bolsters of Atractylis caespitosa, 

 looking from a distance like huge sponges. We have thns a tree-flora only near the 

 summit, at elevations which in the northern Atlas or Tell are almost above the 

 forest-zone. Hartert collected the following species of plants on Djebel Mekter, 

 from about 1400 to 2061 metres : Ephedra fragilis, Lotus corniculatus, Sedum 

 altissimum, Poa bulbosa, Stipa lagascae, Tulipa celsiana, Ophris apifera, Iris 

 xiphiuin, Rumex bxicephalophorus, R. vesicarius, Perideraea fuscata, Heliclirysum, 

 rupestre, Castananche caerulca, Anvillea radiata, Chrysanthemum maresii, Chr. 

 mawii var. depressum, Atractylis caespitosa, Cynoglossum cheirifolium, Rosmarinus 

 officinalis, Thymus coloratus, Saccocaly.r saturejoides, Pistacia atlantica, Juniperus 

 phoenicea, J. oxycedrus, Heliantkemum vulgare, H. pilosum, Glaucium corniculatum, 

 Arenaria serpyllifolia, Scabiosa monspeliensis, Linaria reticulata , Delphinium 

 ajacis, Malcolmia aegyptiaca, Mathiola livida, Diplotaxis erucoides. 



