394 Mr. D. A. Bunnerman : First Impressions [Ibis, 



Linnets, Corn-Bantings, innumerable Sparrows, Starlings, 

 etc., but once the semi-desert plains with their scrubby 

 veoetation were reached, these lovers o£ cultivated lands 

 were left behind, and instead we saw Common Cranes, Sand- 

 Grouse, Bustards, and close to Bdj el Menzel, near a sheet 

 o£ water, innumerable small wading birds which, however, 

 we were quite unable to identify from the car. Crested 

 Larks* were again numerous, but other small birds were 

 seldom seen, save an occasional Shrike or so. Cranes flying 

 in small parties over the scrub, or else standing in little groups 

 on the plain feeding unconcernedly within a few hundred 

 yards of the car, made a charming picture, especially as w e 

 had somehow never expected to meet them. According 

 to Whitaker the Common (h-ane is abundant in Tunisia in 

 winter and during migration, and is then to be seen in large 

 flocks close to Tunis and Clarthage. We had not, however, 

 seen any in the northern part of the Regency during our 

 brief visit. It has not been known to breeil in Tunisia, but, 

 curiously enough, the Demoiselle Crane {AntJiropoides virgo), 

 though quite a rare species in Tunisia, has been known to 

 breed near Susa. 



We passed close to Sebkra Kelbia, a great expanse of 

 water which looked very much out of place in this flat and 

 otherwise arid landscape. These inland lakes are very 

 remarkable, and must surely be the haunt of vast numbers of 

 waterfowl at certain seasons of the year. From the nature 

 of their position, surrounded by the open plain, and their 

 entire lack of undergrowth, birds resting on the surface 

 would be quite unapproachable from any direction. To 

 explore thoroughly these vast plains and Sebkras it would 

 be necessary to take a tent and camp, the distances being too 

 oreat to work the ground conveniently from the nearest 

 French hostelry, though much good work could certainly be 

 done by a naturalist staying in Kairouan itself. The climate 

 of Tunisia is delightful, the rain-fall, particularly in the 

 central and southern divisions of the Regency, very small, 

 and we may take Mr. Whi taker's word for it that "as a 

 * Probably Galerida thekke superjiua, but none obtamed. 



