102 Mr. W. T. H. Chambers's Month in Tripoli. 



tree I found a nest of Lanius dealbatus, placed about ten feet from 

 the ground, composed of sticks roughly put together, and con- 

 taining one egg. I subsequently found two more nests of this 

 bird, containing eggs nearly ready to hatch. 



Leaving Lebdah, we struck due south across the hills, and 

 two days' journey brought us to Umsalahta, a large village 

 with a Turkish governor, who received us in due form. On a 

 neighbouring hill are the remains of a Roman castle, command- 

 ing a magnificent prospect over the hills stretching far away 

 southward into the Great Sahara and bounded on the north by 

 the distant line of the Mediterranean, while immediately below 

 lay rich fertile valleys, covered with olive-trees that are cele- 

 brated for their great age and size. Among these groves I 

 found Lanius auriculatus, Petronia stulta, Ruticilla phcenicura, 

 and Dromulcea leucura. From Umsalahta, a long day's march 

 brought us to a wild rocky gorge called El Dou-oun, the rugged 

 sides of which abounded with jackals and foxes ; and hyaenas 

 are not uncommon. This valley also shelters a predatory Arab 

 chief and his myrmidons, who paid us a friendly visit, and 

 brought a present of fodder for our animals, as a token of the 

 esteem in which Mr. Warrington is universally held among all 

 classes of Arabs. I made an excursion with my gun, following 

 the course of a small streamlet, the sides of which abounded 

 with Partridges and Pigeons, whilst from the rushes I flushed 

 Scolopax gallinago and Tetanus ochropus. I shot Philomela 

 luscinia and Ruticilla phcenicura, and observed Dromolaa leucura, 

 as well as, I think, D. lugens. The former were evidently breed- 

 ing, though I was not able to discover a nest. 



Emerging from this valley, we entered on a vast undulating 

 and treeless plateau; and two days' march brought us to 

 Turhona, the headquarters of a powerful tribe, whose sheyk 

 gave us a warm welcome. I had been looking forward to our 

 arrival on these plains as the reputed home of numerous Bus- 

 tards ; but, to my disappointment, I was assured that during the 

 winter these birds migrate southward into the desert, and only 

 reappear when compelled by the scorching heat of summer. 

 This account was confirmed by an American gentleman resident 

 in Tripoli. 



