648 Mr. J. I. S. AVhitaker on 



ill existing charts, compiled probably on second-hand and 

 nntrustworthy inRn'niation. On nearing the coast some 

 trouble was experienced with the Oulid-Sliman Arabs, who 

 are very fanatical, and the whole caravan was under arms 

 while crossing their territory. Fortunately, however, al- 

 though several times on the verge of hostilities, actual 

 fighting was avoided, and the party succeeded in effecting its 

 journey across the dangerous country in perfect safety, 

 finally reaching Benghazi early in August. 



In the foregoing rough sketch of Mr. Dodson^s journey, 

 I have alluded merely en passant to some of the more 

 remarkable incidents which occurred during it, this not 

 being either the time or place to dwell at length thereon. 

 Apart, however, from being an extremely arduous under- 

 taking, and for desert-travel perhaps a " record," some 

 fifteen hundred miles having been traversed within the com- 

 paratively short space of four months or so, the journey 

 seems also to have been replete with interesting experiences, 

 an account of Avhicli would probably furnish material 

 sufficient to fill a fair-sized volume. 



I append a list of the few species and subspecies of birds, 

 of which specimens were actually obtained during the 

 journey, the total amounting to sixty-two in number. 



Of these, as might be expected, a large proportion are 

 desert forms, Larks and Chats preponderating, as usual in 

 collections from Saharan regions. Birds of prey, contrary to 

 what might have been expected, are conspicuous by their 

 absence, as are also members of the Corvine family. Waders, 

 and water-birds generally, are almost entirely unrepresented 

 in the collection. Owing to an unfortunate lack of field- 

 notes, I am able to say but little regarding the species 

 met with, and, in the majority of cases, can merely record 

 the simple data of sex, locality, and date from the labels. 



Although in many ways highly interestmg, especially from 

 a geographical and cartographical point of view, the result 

 of the expedition, ornithologically considered, is somewhat 

 disappointing, or perhaps I should sav unexpected, taking 



