in the Eastern Atlas. 361 



127. Crex baillonii. (Baillon's Crake.) 



This shy little bird we used to see occasionally at Zana, where 

 we obtained one nest, which an Arab brought to our tents. 



128. PottPHYRio HYAciNTHiNUS. (Purple Water Hen.) 

 This magnificent species is common at Zana, where it keeps 



very much out of sight under the cover of the taller reeds. It 

 is, I believe, in the habit of destroying the Ducks' nests whenever 

 it can get an opportunity. Many a time did we leave a nest for 

 the satisfactory determination of the species to which it belonged, 

 and return to find every egg broken and sucked out. It may 

 be calumny to ascribe these depredations to Porphyrio hyacin- 

 thinus ; but I strongly suspect the charge is not unfounded. The 

 eggs are so much taken by the Arabs that I can speak with no 

 certainty of the usual complement laid by one bird. 



129. Gallinula chloropus. (Water Hen.) 

 Excessively common at Zana, judging from the number of 



eggs brought to us by the Arabs. 



130. FULICA ATRA. (Coot.) 



Also common at Zana, Djendeli, and Bizerta, in none of which 

 places did I observe the Crested Coot {Fulica cristata). 



131. Ph(enicopterus antiquorum. (Flamingo.) 



It seems to be an almost universal rule throughout the world, 

 that where their are salt lakes, there Flamingos are found *. 

 It certainly is the case in Tunis, and the province of Constantine 

 in Eastei'n Algeria; no permanent salt lake of any extent is 

 without them. Every one who has visited Tunis must remember 

 the vast numbers that are to be seen in the lagoon of El Baheira 

 and the lake on the north western side of the town, and will 

 recall to mind the magnificent sight of a thousand or more 

 of these beautiful birds rising from the water at one time, the 



* Mr. Darwin (' Naturalist's Voyage,' new ed. page 66) states that he 

 found Flamingos in Patagonia, Northern Chili, and the Galapagos 

 Islands, frequenting the salt lakes. They are also found in the salt lakes 

 of Siberia. (See ' Pallas's Travels, 1793 to 1794,' pp. 129-134.) The 

 whole physical features of the Eastern Atlas range suggest the idea of its 

 recent elevation above the sea-level ; and I would include the upheaval 

 of this portion with that of the Sahara, as conjectured by Mr. Tristram. 

 (Ibis, vol. i. p. 155.) 



