374 Rev. H. B. Tristram's Notes from Eastern Algeria. 



to the Gecinus canus of the North. In habits and voice it exactly 

 resembles its congener. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker I also 

 saw, but by no means so abundant as the others, of whom I pro- 

 cured several specimens. We were too early for the nests of 

 any of them. The Roller had returned to his summer quarters 

 and might be heard and seen everywhere, performing his strange 

 gyrations and dropping on the tallest tree within reach for an 

 instant or two with his loud discordant shriek. As evening 

 drew on, the Red-necked Goatsucker {Capriinulyus ruficoUis) 

 flitted about the glades; and the note of the Scops Eared Owl 

 floated on the air, with its plaintive ' Maroof, maroof,' from 

 which it derives its local appellation. But in this spot, and in 

 this only, I found in abundance that most beautiful of European 

 Lepidoptera, and almost the rarest, Thais medicaste, lighting con- 

 tinually, with brilliant yellow and red wings, on a species of Cen- 

 taury. Butterflies are by no means abundant in North Africa, 

 and the scarcity of Lepidoptera contrasts strongly with the end- 

 less variety and profusion of the Coleoptera. 



At dawn we were again in the saddle, and on our way 

 obtained a single egg of the Egyptian Vulture, but had the plea- 

 sure of watching for some time a pair of Tawny Eagles {Aquila 

 n(2vioides),oiyN\x\c\\, though a young one (now in the Zoological 

 Gardens) was once brought to us, we never obtained the nest. 

 In its flight, it seems in no way to differ from the Spotted and 

 Golden Eagles. On reaching Souk Harras, not very richly 

 laden, my principal captures having been two eggs of the Liipe- 

 rial Eagle, and one of Moussier's Redstart, with a few interesting 

 skins wrapped up behind my saddle, I found our camp was re- 

 moved to some distance, and so put up at our old quarters in 

 the auberge. The commandant, however, hospitably invited me 

 to dine, to meet the cure and another young abbe. The eccle- 

 siastics discussed the Arab population, whom they, though pro- 

 fessedly missionaries, considered beyond all hope of conversion, 

 and therefore never made the effort. The commandant, with a 

 dash of quiet, subacid humour, entered into the conversation, 

 and remarked that doubtless such was the opinion of our na- 

 tive St. Augustine, whose mantle had fallen on the cure. He 

 added, that the earlier hfe of St. Augustine seemed carefully fol- 



