( 4fi0 ) 



The cemeteries are truly lieaiitifnl as compared with the entirely bare Arab ones. 

 They are covered with green bushes and (at this time) with innumerable lilac and 

 white little flowers, and each grave is ornamented with pieces of broken pottery, 

 l)roken instruments, or other broken thinijs, evidently to signify the broken life of 

 tiie deceased. There are also special little houses near the cemeteries for ablutions, 

 without which prayers may not be said ; and for the grand prayer, said on certain 

 days in the year, large platforms like big elevated barn-floors are built. 



The most extraordinary feature, and a remarkable proof of the industry of the 

 people, are the deep wells, of which over 1 100 are said to exist in the M'zab valley 

 alone. They are being worked almost the whole day, by mules, horses, cattle, and 

 camels, bringing up bucket after bucket of the fluid element without which the 

 palms and gardens cannot exist. Far superior to all Arab oases we have seen are 

 the M'zabite ones, and the beautiful ajipearance is chiefly due to the vines which 

 are trained like garlands from jialm to palm and along the walls. 



The bird life in the oases is almost as poor as elsewbere, but the Grey Shrike 

 {Lanuis excubitor elegan.s) and Crateropus fiilmis nest in them, the number of both 

 Turtle-doves, Turtur tuHur arenicola and senp<)alensis acg>/ptiai;us, is enormous, 

 and often Oetuinthe (Siix/cola) leacopyqa nests in the wells or on houses and 

 stone walls. 



Excursions were made eastwards, in the direction of Guerrara, where a few 

 Crested Larks, Ammomiines of both species, Otocorijs and Rli(tmpliocori/t! were 

 found, bnt a search for their rare eggs was in vain. The ascent from the valley 

 to the plateau over bare rock was rather slippery for the mules, bat accomplished 

 without misfortune. Ravens, Milvus koischun and Seophron visited the abattoirs 

 near the town. Kestrels were seen several times, and Scops-owls heard in the 

 gardens. 



Here at last, for the first time during this trip, the nights were dark, warm, 

 and without wind. Consequently we could use our lamps, and caught hundreds 

 of moths. It was striking that Geometridae were almost entirely absent, and 

 among the Xoctuidae the genus Cleophnim was most richly represented. Of 

 butterflies a very light form of Euchlo,' falloid was collected on the rocks, but 

 was particularly difficult to catch on account of the rugged rocks and strong 

 wind ; and Dr. Nissen and Walter Rothschild also caught Tei-wolus nouna ! 



On April 24 we returned once more to Tilrhempt. On arrival there the other 

 motor, which conveyed our luggage, broke down hopelessly and had to be 

 abandoned. The luggage was put on a cart, which travelled about one mile, 

 when a wheel broke in pieces. In the dark of the night everything had to be 

 transferred to another cart, and at last started otf — and actually reacheil Laghouat 

 safely ! 



At Tilrhempt, too, we had this time occasion to catch moths, among them 

 the beautiful green Cleopkana warionis and the rare Cossiis (tries Piingeler, 

 hitherto only known from two specimens taken in Palestine. On April 20 we 

 reached Laghouat, which we left again on April 28. While in Laghouat we 

 went once more to the big plain full of Zizijphus and the, now quite dry, 

 " oned " where Euchlo'e charloniu, falloui and others were flying. Quails, Motncilla 

 Jiaca and Aiithus prritc/is/s were still on migration. Crested Larks had young 

 ones, Melanocorijpha cahuu/ra and Sj/lfia conspiciUata were found with eggs. 



On tlie way from Laghouat to Boghari, before we came to the little cara- 

 vanserai of Guelt es Stel, we had a great misfortune. Probably some one cut 



