1 92 1.] of Tunisia and Ah/eria. 409 



sky for a chance sight of a Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus 

 harhatus harhatus) . 



Just before the gorge is entered the train pulls up at the 

 station of El Kantara. Ornithologists are recommended to 

 make a stay at the Hotel Bertrand, which has been built 

 in a picturesque position almost in the mouth of the gorge 

 itself. Apart from the possibility of seeing the Bearded 

 Vulture, the great cliffs of the Djebel Metlili and the imme- 

 diate ranges east of El Kantara are the breeding-place of 

 Egyptian Vultures [Neophron percnopterus percnopterus), 

 Golden Eagles {Aquila chri/saetus), and Bonelli's Eagles 

 [Fjutolmaetus fasciatus fasciatus), African Buzzards (Bufeo 

 ferox eirtensis), Algerian Lanner Falcons (Falco hiarmicus 

 erlan<jeri). Black Kites {^Alilrus mufrans migrans), and pro- 

 bably other accipitrine birds as well, a sufficiently interesting- 

 collection to entice most ornithologists to break their journey 

 to Biskra at this favoured spot. Many other birds, other 

 than birds-of-prey, may be seen in the neighbourhood of 

 El Kantara, and a week at least can be comfortably spent 

 there, even if time is pressing. 



Many pens have doubtless attempted to desci'ibe the swift 

 passage I'rom the dark towering precipices of El Kantara 

 and the grandeur of the Aures Mountains to the solitude and 

 glare of the great Sahara. Truly has the gorge been called 

 the Gate of the Desert. As the train a})proaches the 

 apparently solid wall of rock, as viewed from the station, 

 a glimpse is caught of a turbulent boulder-strewn stream 

 rushing through the narrow pass and lined on either bank 

 with palm and fruit trees ; above rise the great jagged cliffs, 

 throwing everything far and wide into shade. The train 

 winds in and out of three short tunnels, between which 

 fascinating glimpses of the palms and bed of the rushing 

 torrent are obtained. Suddenly the wall of cliff ends, and 

 in a flood of light one gazes down upon a sea of wavino" 

 palm-trees, and beyond the infinite space of the desert. 



Over the great plain of El Outa'ia, the forecourt of the 

 Sahara, entirely encircled by mountains, the train slowly 

 winds its way, stopping for a short while at the village and 



2 E 2 



