1 92 1.] of lunisia and Algeria. 403 



gives a patchy appearance, resembling from a distance a 

 well-burnt Scottish moor. 



Every day for two weeks I rode over these hills on the 

 excellent little Arab horses to be hired at the hotel, or else 

 explored the river-bed of the Oued bou Haiiidane (Plate II. 

 fig. 2), in places almost dry save for two or three narrow 

 channels easily fordable at almost any point. 



No matter what direction is taken birds are everywhere 

 really plentiful. Close to the hotel, in the thick under- 

 growth of the valleys and on the olive-clad slopes, we 

 observed Greenfinches ( Chloris cliloris aurantiiventris) in 

 small numbers almost every day. Chaffinches (Fringilla 

 coelebs africana), numerous Blackbirds {Turdus merida 

 algirus), Song-Thrushes {Turdus pMlomelus philomelus), 

 Redbreasts (apparently Erithacus ruhenda ruhecula), 

 Dusky Bulbuls {Pgcnonotus harhatus barhatiis), Brown 

 Linnets {Acantliis cannxdnna meditery'anea) in small flocks, 

 and Goldfinches {Carduelis carduelis africana) in consider- 

 able numbers, Starlings (Sturmis vulgaris vulgaris) in 

 huge flocks, Sparrows, Corn-Buntings {Emberiza calandra 

 ealandra), Blue Titmice [Parus ca'ruletis idtramarinus) very 

 few. Blackcaps (Si/lvia atricapilla atricapilla) rather rare. 

 Sardinian Warblers {Sglvia melanocephala melanocephala\ 

 and Kestrels ( Cerclineis tinnuncidtis tinnunculus) . 



On the more rocky ground, covered with grass, small 

 scrub, and olives, the Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara 

 barbara) is plentiful. All were paired by the time I arrived 

 on the 17th of Februar3\ In the reeds of the dry river-bed 

 I caught a hasty glimpse of a Warbler, but am uncertain of 

 the species to which it belonged. Birds of Prey were nearly 

 always observed once the higher ground had been reached. 

 Most commonly seen was the Golden Eagle (Agtula 

 chri/saetus). On the 25tli of February I saw three together 

 sailing majestically along the hillside, whilst another eagle, 

 observed on one occasion only^ was, I believe, Bonelli's 

 Eagle {Eutolmaetus fasciatus fasciatus), a bird with which 

 I am unfamiliar. Bonelli's Eagle is recorded by Messrs. 

 Wallis and Jourdain (Ibis, 1915, p. 157) as breeding at 



