THE ALGERIAN SAHARA. 43 



birds. Mr. Dresser, in the "Birds of Europe," part XVII., 

 says : — 



" One of the least known of tlic Chats ; this species has a very 

 restricted range, and has hitherto only been met with in North- 

 western Africa, Palestine, and Persia, not having as yet been re- 

 corded from any portion of the large intervening tract of country." 



He states that in summer the cock is much brighter than 

 in winter, and figures the former plumage from a specimen 

 obtained by Loche, who appears to have got them about 

 the same time as Canon Tristram, but to have considered 

 them the same as Dronwlcca isabclUna (cf. Ibis, 1S59, p. 299). 



Hanging in the tent wc had come to were the head 

 and foot of a Griffon Vulture (jiissr), whilst several kids 

 w^ere tethered to a cord inside, and outside others gambolled, 

 and occasionally got upon the roof. Not far off two 

 Egyptian Vultures, an old one and a young one, were dis- 

 cussing the skeleton of a defunct animal. They are most 

 effective scavengers, never, I believe, leaving a carcass while 

 a bone remains unpicked. The young one permitted a very 

 near approach, but the old one was more wary. Well 

 known are they to the Arabs by their name of Rackma. 

 Here I had opportunity of looking at the women, who in 

 general are so jealously guarded by their masters as to be 

 invisible to the stranger's inquisitive eye. They are short 

 and bent, probably from carrying heavy waterskins. They 

 appear to be kind to their children, and give them bracelets 

 and earrings made of shells, beads, and bright pieces of tin. 

 But the Arab himself has few ornaments to deck his shabby 

 tenement. In flocks and herds his wealth consists. If 

 there be enough tents to form a circle, these are driven in 

 and folded at night, and are guarded by dogs of a savage 

 breed against the Hyenas and Jackals which are lurking in 

 the iveds. The Arab is his own cobbler, and a rough sort 

 sort of (laced) boot he makes, but I suppose he thinks it 

 better than walking barefoot over the soil, which in some 



