THE ALGERIAN SAHARA. 39 



with the Tawny Owl (Strix ahico, Lin.), of which there are 

 two very large specimens in the Algiers Museum, and which 

 the late Mr. Verreaux proposed to describe as a distinct 

 species, and name after my father.* 



On Sunday, happening to be out for a stroll, I observed 

 twelve Vultures at a distance, circling round a mountain ; 

 and having nothing to do, I determined to cultivate their 

 nearer acquaintance. When however I got to the foot I 

 counted them again and there were were only eleven, but 

 the twelfth, while I was wondering what had become of him, 

 leisurely turned out from behind a boulder, not fifty paces 

 from me, and displaying the huge body and pinions of a 

 stately Griffon (Gyps fiilviis) slowly sailed away to where 

 his mates were still performing their aerial evolutions. That 

 he had been gorging I have no doubt, which would account 

 for his tameness, for on no other occasion did I ever get so 

 near one, though I often saw them at a distance. 



I will only mention the Swallow for the sake of saying 

 that it is a mistake to suppose that this bird, or any of the 

 European Hinuidinidcv (except Cotylc rupcstris, the most 

 stay-at-home of all the family,) pass the winter in Algeria. 

 It was not until the end of February that I observed 

 Swallows, and I am convinced that few, if any, remain 

 throughout the year. On the 26th and 27th of March we 

 experienced a very cold wind at Laghouat, and so be- 

 numbed were they that hundreds might have been killed 

 with stones. The poor birds were to be seen sitting about 

 in all directions. I shall not forget one affecting incident 

 of which I was a witness. I found a Swallow lying dead in 

 the town with its mate beside it, and although the poor 

 creature had been some time dead, she would not leave it. 

 Constant to her post beside its head, she sang (if their notes 



* Specimens of this Algerian race are preser\-ed in the Norwich 

 Museum. 



