THE ALGERIAN SAHARA. 47 



pedition, for their courtesy to a stranger — a courtesy more 

 stamped on the French than on any nation in the civilized 

 world. 



Calling for a pipe (scbsi) and some tobacco, I had an 

 opportunity of seeing the way the Mzab smoke. They 

 brought me the bone of a sheep, about six inches long, with 

 a bit of black leather fastened at the end. It was hollowed 

 out, and in this makeshift for a bowl was inserted about 

 half as much tobacco as one would put into an ordinary 

 briar-root. The tobacco was quite green* and very strong, 

 but fatigued as we were with the journey it was very accept- 

 able, and had a soothing effect. 



It \vas a two-storied court where we were located. In 

 the rafters I observed a pair of House Buntings (Fri)igiUaria 

 saharm, Bp.). As this desert species is so little known in 

 Europe, and as I was the first to bring the eggs and young 

 to England, I shall be excused for copying '\\\ detail the 

 account of it contributed by me to the " Ibis." 



" Emberiza SaJiari (Levt.) " Exploration Scientifique de I'Algerie." 

 Plate IX., Bis. fig. 2. House Bunting of Tristram. 



" I think every house in Gardaia is tenanted by a pair of House 

 Buntings. They are e lually common in the other ]\Izab cities. A 

 nest in the inner court at Berryan was upon some plaster in a large 

 square hole. It contained one young one, yellow about the gape, 

 and covered with a whitish down. It was a shallow nest made of 

 the thin twigs of firewood, and lined with hair. The hen generally 

 flew to it from the edge of the opposite wall. As I afterwards 

 found other nests, I was able to make further observations. I think 

 the eggs must be deposited in March, as in most instances the 

 young had been hatched off. Judging from the one at Berryan, 

 which had flown when I returned to that place on the last day of 

 the month, the young remain in the nest at least twenty-one days. 

 On the 23rd of April I saw a nestling full grown and able to feed 



*" The tobacco smoked by the fellaheen of Egypt, which they call 

 Siecdy, is green. 



