1 92 1.] of Tunisia and Algeria. 391 



west of the town is surrounded bj a wide stretch of sand, or, 

 rather, mud, and must be largely resorted to by Waders. We 

 wore too far from it to note what birds were about, but two 

 Herons (^Ardea cinerea) were recognised flying heavily from 

 shore to shore^ just as the sun was rising and tipping the 

 distant hills with gold. In all directions the hind was under 

 cultivation, green with the young corn, or else in course of 

 being ploughed up by teams of eight oxen. Crested Larks 

 wore here observed in great numbers, and as the car flew 

 along many seemed to court death by dusting themselves in 

 the road, escaping the wheels as if by a miracle. Quite a 

 number of Lapwings were noticed, not in flocks but singly 

 or two or three together, and all very tame, not attempting 

 to stir as we passed. Corn-Buntings, Starlings, Sparrows, 

 and Goldfinches were all numerous in flocks, particularl}- the 

 Goldfinches (^Ca^'duelis carduelis afr'icana). Brown Linnets 

 [Acanthis cannahitta mediterranea) were also seen, but not in 

 such numbers. Gradually the aspect of the country began 

 to change, green fields gave way to olive-orchards, where 

 Blackbirds* and Thrushes were noted for the first time. 

 Several Common Kestrels were circling overhead, and as we 

 dashed over a bridge a pair of Southern Little Owls (^Athene 

 noctua glaux) dai'tod out of an old olive-trunk. The road 

 now began to ascend, and the slopes were everywhere thickly 

 covered with scrub. Several Moorish Magpies {Pica jnca 

 mauretauira) were hero noticed, while the Algerian Shrike 

 (Lanius e.reubitor algeriensis) was seen perched on the summit 

 of a thorn-bush. As we gradually reached higher altitudes 

 the sun was completely blotted out by many clouds which 

 our chauffeur informed us always lay like a blanket over this 

 particular part of the hilly countryside. Certainly it was 

 unpleasantly cold, but as we neared Dougga the sun again 

 flooded the landscape and lit up the truly wonderful ruins 



* It does not seem to have been settled whether the Blackbird 

 inhabiting northern Tunisia is T. m. algirus — the race which inhabits 

 northern Algeria — or whether it is T. m. mauretanicus — the race which 

 is found in southern Tunisia and southern Algeria ; probably it will 

 prove to be the former. 



SER. XI. — VOL. III. 2 D 



