410 Mr. D. A. Bnnnernian : First Impressions [Ibis, 



palm oasis from which the plain takes its name. Both Kites 

 and Kestrels were seen in the neighbourhood, the former 

 doubtless the Black Kite (Milvus migrans migrans). The 

 huge expanse, flat as a billiard-table save for the inter- 

 secting dry watercourses, is absolutely bare and sandy, 

 partly covered with small stones and partly cultivated, 

 patches of exceedingly green corn standing out in striking 

 contrast to the drab desert soil. This is the home of 

 many interesting birds — the C^alandra Lark (^MeJanocoryplia 

 calandra calandra), the Algerian Desert Lark [Ammomanes 

 deserti algeriensis), Hilgert's Crested Lark {Galerida tltefcke 

 liilgerti), the Western Russet Wheatear {(JtJnantlie Inspanica 

 hispanica), the African Black C^hat [(Jilnantlie leucura 

 syenitiixi), the Pied Chat [fEnantlie lugens halophila), and 

 several other desert birds which I found there on future 

 visits. 



The plain takes some time to cross, but gradually we drew 

 near to the low range which obscures the view of Biskra 

 and the true desert beyond. Running parallel with the 

 course of a wide river-bed, the line passes through a cutting 

 in the Chaine du Sfa, and as we emerged from the hills the 

 oreat oasis of Biskra came into view, with a single white 

 tower standing conspicuously above the palms and cypresses. 

 To the east and west the Aures Mountains recede into the 

 distance, while to the south stretches the immeasurable 

 golden desert, broken only by lines of dark green marking 

 other oases on the horizon — and so the edge of the Sahara is 

 reached at last. 



Three delightful weeks were spent in the oasis exploring 

 the neighbourhood. For a naturalist arriving at Biskra for 

 the first time, there is so much to see, and so much to do, that 

 the time slips away before half is accomplished. Dr. Hartert 

 had kindly instructed me where to go and Avhat to look for, 

 and armed with his paper " Ornithological Explorations in 

 Algeria" (ex Nov. Zool. xviii.), with Mr. Jourdain's "Notes 

 on the Bird j:.ife of Eastern Algeria " (Ibis, 1915), Whitaker's 

 ' Birds of Tunisia/ and Witherby's ' Practical Handbook of 

 British Birds ' — the last-named invaluable for the identifying 



