392 Mr. D. A. Bannerman : First Impressions [Ibis, 



we liaJ come to see. Surrounded by olive-trees, imposingly 

 situated on the mountain-slope, from which a magnificent 

 view of the adjoining country is obtainetl, the i-uined Roman 

 Capitol, Temples, and Theatre bear silent witness to the 

 wonders of the Roman occupation.- It was on the terraced 

 steps of the Theatre that I made the acquaintance of one of 

 the most delightful of Tunisian birds^ Moussier's Redstart 

 (^J)iplootocus moiissieri), a male bird with his orange-brown 

 breast and rump, black wings and head, and strikingly pure 

 white frontal band, eye-stripe and alar patch, making a 

 charming picture in such unique surroundings. Moussier's 

 Redstart is a typically northern African mountain bird, 

 and certainly reminds one more of a Redstart than a Stone- 

 chat. It is to be met with in both the northern and southern 

 Atlas Ranges of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. I found it 

 myself both at Dougga and at Hammam Meskoutine in the 

 northern Atlas in February, while Hartert and Rothschild 

 record it from the southern Atlas Ranges during the breed- 

 ino-season and from the northern S:diara in winter. It is 

 common in the Aures mountains of Algeria, and Whitaker 

 notes that it is plentiful in the southern oases of Tunisia, 

 leaving these districts in spring for the liigher altitudes 

 farther north. In the Moroccan Atlas this species is met 

 with up to consitlerable altitudes, ant! Ca})tain Lynes recently 

 found it breeding commonly in the "Middle-Atlas" Range 

 (Ibis, 1920, p. 296). 



Birds were plentiful in the olive-groves of Dougga, Star- 

 lino's and Thrushes (both winter visitors), Cliaffinches, and 

 Blue-Tits being observed. The former is a resident Tunisian 

 subs[)ecies [Frinyilla cwlebs spodiogenys), while the latter is 

 the common north-west African race of the Blue Titmous(^ 

 (Parus cdiruleus ultramarinus) . In some high cliffs close to 

 Dougga a number of Rock-Pigeons were observed. As none 

 were obtained, I cannot say to which race they belonged. 

 Considering that the day was spent in examining Roman 

 remains, the number of birds seen which could be identified 

 without any doubt was distinctly encouraging, for of course 

 a few others were noted which I dare not attempt to name. 



