150 Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt Drake on the Birds of Morocco. 



habits more resemble those of some of the Swallow- than of the 

 Hawk-tribe. 



At Rabat I saw two birds alive in the possession of Mr. C. 

 Smith, the English Vice-Consul, which were evidently some 

 kind of Francolin ; but as I was unable to procure a specimen I 

 cannot venture to name them : the plumage was of a dark slaty- 

 grey with whitish pencillings on the back and wings ; the breast 

 was of the same grey, but with a circular spot of white on each 

 feather. The general colour of the plumage much resembled 

 that of a Guinea-Fowl, but was perhaps a slight shade browner. 

 These birds had been brought in quite young from the Zyar 

 country in the preceding spring ; but unluckily these Zyars are 

 one of the unsubjected tribes numbering some forty thousand 

 strong, so that it is impossible to penetrate their country, which 

 is to a great extent forest, as is the territory of their equally 

 lawless neighbours the Zimours, who live in the forest of Mai- 

 mora, to the south-east of Rabat. A species of wild ox, of a dun 

 or reddish colour, is said to have existed here till recently, but 

 is now said to be quite extinct. I was also told that a large 

 Wood- Pigeon with a black ring round its neck is found here; 

 but I never met with it myself. 



When I was in the neighbourhood of Dar-el-baida (Casa- 

 blanca), hearing that Otis arabs, or, as it is called by the natives, 

 the " Hobar," was to be found on the plains inland, I went up 

 the country and spent several days hunting it, but was not for- 

 tunate enough to obtain any. I followed the usual plan pur- 

 sued by the Arabs, several of whom came out to help me : their 

 way is to ride in line over the plain till a Bustard is flushed and 

 to mark it down, surround it, and try to drive it to where the 

 guns are posted; but though this might answer well enough 

 with several guns, yet I found it useless while I was alone. 



The Arabs are always glad to shoot these birds, as they say 

 there is nearly as much flesh on them as on half a sheep ; they 

 told me, too, of a plan of stalking which was sometimes used 

 with success. It is done thus : — A schwarry, or double pannier, 

 being put on a camel, two men deposit themselves therein, one 

 on each side, and guide the camel up to the Bustard, which is 

 so accustomed to these animals that it does not move, and so 



