Notes frum Morocco. 247 



48. Alcedo ispida. 



Several times seen in the Laraish valley and near the lake 

 of Masharalhaddar. 



49. COCCYSTES GLANDARIUS. 



Though I did not myself come across this species, my 

 companion, Capt. Gould, informs me that on a previous 

 visit to the lake of Masharalhaddar, in Januaiy 1876, 

 he saw a flock of about twenty in some old fig-trees near the 

 lake, and shot one for identification. The occurrence of 

 the birds in such numbers together appears to be rather 

 extraordinary. 



50. Strix flammea. 



I only once saw this Owl, a single bird flying out of a 

 dense mass of creepers in a " soto " almost into my face. It 

 is stated by Favier to be " nearly as abundant as Athene 

 noctua, inhabiting ruins and holes in rocks " (Irby, op, cit. 

 p. 56). Their haunts not being likely spots for Snipe and 

 Ducks, I naturally did not see very many. 



51. Asio OTUs. 



One obtained by Olcese in the montanas near Tangier in 

 the summer of 1884. This is, I imagine, the first recorded 

 example from Morocco (Dresser, B. of Europe, vol. v. p. 254). 



52. Asio capensis. 

 Common. 



53. Syrnium aluco. 



One disturbed in a snug hollow, overgrown with arbutus, 

 myrtle, giant heather, and stunted cork-trees, on the 19th 

 December, 1884. Olcese had a specimen, which I obtained 

 from him, procured on the montanas near Tangier. It is 

 of the grey variety alluded to by Col. Irby {op. cit. p. 57). 



54. Athene noctua. 



Very common and noisy at night. I once walked close 

 past one, uttering its monotonous mewing or crying notes 

 in the middle of the day on the exposed branch of a leafless 

 tree. 



