On the Birds of Tangier and Eastern Morocco. 421 



over the whole surface ; in others the markings are crowded on 

 the larger end. 



The note of Sarciophorus pectoralis is a shrill cry of " kery 

 kery," repeated several times in quick succession. 



XXV. — Notes on the Birds of Tangier and Eastern Morocco. 

 By C. F. Tyrwhitt Drake. 



The following few notes, on the birds which I observed in the 

 neighbourhood of Tangier during my stay there from January 

 to the beginning of April last, may not be without interest, as 

 that part of Africa has not received much attention from orni- 

 thologists. The country immediately around Tangier is not so 

 good for a collector as that near Tetuan, which lies at the foot 

 of a northern spur of the Atlas, rising there abruptly from the 

 plain to an elevation seemingly of six or seven thousand feet, 

 though unfortunately I had not any instruments with me to 

 ascertain its real height. These mountains are in many parts 

 well wooded ; and the Andalusian Quail, Woodpeckers, and 

 Owls are abundant, while on the rocky cliffs Eagles, Vultures, 

 and Hawks breed in numbers. Nearer the town, orange-groves 

 extend almost without interruption for two or three miles, 

 watered by a stream abounding in trout ; and here the Dusky 

 Ixus literally swarms, while the gardens are the chief haunts of 

 the various Warblers, which delight in the shelter afforded by the 

 cane-hedges. Wild-fowl are plentiful in the marshes at Martine, 

 the port of Tetuan, about eight miles distant, as well as Crakes, 

 Egrets, and other marsh-fowl. 



Of the Eagles and Vultures, few remain in Morocco during the 

 winter, but most come in flights from the south-east and south 

 between the 15th and 20th of March, almost invariably during 

 an easterly wind. Alpine Swifts make their appearance at 

 the same time ; but the Bee-eaters and Rollers do not gener- 

 ally come till the middle of April. Most of the Hawks and 

 Buzzards remain during the winter, and are very plentifully 

 scattered over the whole country; yet notwithstanding these, 

 as well as other two-legged and four-footed foes, there is an 

 abundance of game, consisting of Barbary Partridges, Snipes, 



