190 Mr. 0. Salvin's Birds' -nesting in the Eastern Atlas. 



breeding in cliffs and Roman remains of sufficient height. When 

 I visited El Djem, in the Regency of Tunis, in February, I 

 found the ruined amphitheatre tenanted by about twenty pairs. 

 They are said to reside and to build their nests in the most in- 

 accessible ledges of the structure. This amphitheatre is per- 

 haps one of the finest Roman remains in the country, but is, I 

 fear, destined to last no lengthened period; for, besides the 

 ravages of time, the ruthless Arabs daily hasten its downfall by 

 pulling out the stones, to employ them in the construction of 

 their miserable hovels. Strange to say, we never obtained a 

 single egg of this species. 



18. Circus jERUGINosus. (Marsh Harrier.) 



About the middle of May a violent hailstorm passed over us 

 while we were encamped at Ain Djendeli. The hailstones were 

 of such a size, that the trees were stripped of their foliage, and 

 many birds, even ducks, were killed. The day following, a 

 Marsh Harrier, half-dead, was brought to our tents by an Arab, 

 having, doubtless, been reduced to that state by exposure to the 

 fury of the storm. It rallied a little on being taken into the 

 tent, but died shortly afterwards. I have no other instance 

 noted of our having met with this bird. 



19. Athene numida. Stiix numida, Levaillant, Exploration 

 Scientifique d'Algerie, Ois. pi. 4. (Algerian Little Owl.) 



This close ally of the Little Owl {A. noctuo), if, indeed, it is 

 really distinct, we found generally distributed, but nowhere 

 abundant in tbe districts visited. While staying at Djendeli, 

 we obtained, towards the end of May, two nests, from off the 

 eggs of one of which the bird had been caught. In the olive- 

 groves about Tunis, this bird may frequently be met with. 

 In this neighbourhood also it is said to breed, choosing for the 

 position of its nest the wells and old Roman cisterns which so 

 abound throughout the district. 



20. Scops zorca. (Scops-eared Owl.) 



In the Djendeli district we found this Owl abundant; every 

 night its peculiar cry might be heard from one or more indi- 

 viduals. Several birds were brought to us by the Arabs, which 

 had been caught on their nests. One of these, whose wing had 



