in the Eastern Atlas. 357 



selves to the veeds. As I turn now along the northern side of 

 the marsh, 1 hear the Water Hen and Water Rail {Gallimda 

 chluropus and Rallus aquaticus) harshly calling, while now and. 

 then a Wild Duck [Anas boschas) or Pochard {Fuligula ferina) 

 flies out, and, wheeling round, returns. Here too an occasional 

 Squacco Heron [Buphus ralldides) or Sandpiper {Totanus gla- 

 reola ?) rises ; and passing suddenly a corner of the reeds, a 

 startled Purple Water Hen [Porphyrio hyacinthinus) makes all 

 possible haste to gain the denser cover. Leaving the tall reeds, 

 and plunging knee-deep into water and mud, I now come 

 upon the main body of Squacco Herons, and here and there a 

 Bittern {Botaurus stellaris) ; here too may be seen the active 

 little Baillon's Crake [Crex baillonii), allowing one but a mo- 

 mentary glimpse as it passes into the sedge. In the more 

 open part, further to the eastward. Stilts occur in great 

 abundance ; and I never miss an opportunity of watching 

 the ease and grace with which they manage their apparently 

 unwieldy legs. As their nests are near, these birds make the 

 air resound with their harsh, discordant cries. Near the Stilts 

 I usually see an Avocet (Recurvirostra avocetta) or two stalking 

 quietly about the marsh in search of food. Here, too, most of 

 the ducks are to be seen ; and 200 or 300 yards lower down, 

 troops of Ruddy Shieldrake [Casarca rutila), and with them a 

 small flock of Demoiselle Cranes [Anthropoides virgo). These 

 last wend their way eastward to Chot Saboun, and I see them 

 no more. Returning by the south side of the marsh along the 

 water's edge, I find the Kentish Plover, and occasionally a 

 Little Ringed Plover {yEgialites cantiacus and jE. minor) ; while 

 in the short reeds stand a row of BufF-backed Herons {Herodias 

 russata), contrasting strangely in their sluggish movements with 

 the active Little Egrets [Herodias garzetta), some five or six of 

 which may be feeding near with a Glossy Ibis [Ibis falcinellus), 

 the "Devil Heron" in their company. The Bufi'-backs wake up 

 as I approach, and fly away to the Roman ruins close by, there 

 to bask again, standing, some on the overturned stones, some 

 on the decorated arches, two of which still stand at the northern 

 extremity of the old city. The pools on the south side are full 

 of Coots [Fulica atra), and here and there a White-headed 



