1 92 1.] of Tunisia and Algeria. 399 



Two nights were spent in Kairouan, and from there we 

 travelled south over the vast plain passing the great salt 

 lake Sebkra Sidi-el-Hani, and thence in a south-easterly 

 direction to El Djera. Quite a number of Cranes were seen 

 on this part of the journey, but little else of interest save 

 the ever present Larks. El Djem boasts a railway station, 

 a small but quite comfortable hotel, an exceedingly filthy 

 Arab village, ami the finest monument left by the Romans in 

 Tunisia, an Amphitlientre, colossal in size and wonderfully 

 well preserved, rivalling the Colosseum in Rome. The 

 Amphitheatre is evidently the breeding-place of numerous 

 Rock-Pigeons (^Cohimba liria) and many Kestrels, Six or 

 eight of the latter could be seen snaring above the ruin, 

 or else busily engaged in nesting preparations on the highest 

 remaining tiers. Near the Arab village, I remarked a 

 Crested Lark with exceptionally pale sandy-coloured plumage, 

 but as I did not obtain it, I will not venture to give it a 

 name. One would not expect to find either of the true 

 desert forms so far north as El Djem. The first part of the 

 route from El Djem to Susa passes through much the same 

 type of country, the same desert aspect and the same paucity 

 of bird-life as observed between Kairouan and El Djem. 

 As we neared the latter town the landscape quickly changed, 

 rolling olive-clad hills, broken up by deep nullahs, succeeded 

 the plains, and the birds of the orchards at once made their 

 appearance : Turtle-Doves were seen for the first time^ as 

 well as Blackbirds, Thrushes, Buntings, Warblers, etc. 



Staying the night at Susa, we returned to Tunis by the 

 coast-road. From what I saw of the north I am sure a tour 

 in the south — Gabes, Sfnx, Gafsa, Neftaj etc. — would prove 

 ot" exceptional interest, especially to anyone attracted, as I 

 am, by desert scenery and desert fauna and flora. A very 

 pleasant trip, and one which would give the traveller an 

 excellent insight into desert life, would be to travel from 

 (jrabes — a port on the south-east coast of Tunisia — by train 

 or car to Nefta, and from there by camel caravan into 

 Algeria via El Oued and Touggourt, whence the railway 

 would bring him to Biskra in nine hours. While at 



