ion.] 53 



AN EXCUBSION TO SOUTHEEN TUNISIA, WITH NOTES ON 

 SOME OF THE COLEOPTERA, &c, MET WITH. 



BY G. C. CHAMPION, F.Z.S. 



We often read about entomological expeditions to Algeria, but 

 very little has been published about Tunisia, so far as I am aware. A 

 brief account of an excursion last spring to the southern limits of 

 that country may therefore be interesting to the readers of this maga- 

 zine, On April 26th last I joined my friends, the Eev. F. D. Morice, 

 A. v. Schultess, and Theodor Steck, at Tunis, and after staying 

 there a few days to visit Carthage, the coast at Marsa, &c, we 

 proceeded by train to Kairouan. Here we met a well-known Swiss 

 entomologist, Dr. Santschi, long resident in the town, who kindly 

 guided us to various places in the district. On May 3rd we continued 

 our journey by train to Sbeitla, remaining there till May 7th. From 

 Sbeitla the train was then taken to Tozeur, the terminus of the line, 

 about 9-§ hours journey, the last section of which, from Metlaoui on- 

 wards (about 35 miles), having not long been opened. From Tozeur 

 we drove along the sand dunes bordering the great Djerid Chott and 

 the large palm-oases, about 16 miles, to Nefta, another Arab town, 

 not far from the Algerian frontier, and considerably to the south of 

 Biskra. Staying here one night, May 12th, to look round the 

 neighbourhood, we returned the next day to Tozeur. On May 14th 

 we proceeded northward to Metlaoui, travelling thence by the eastern 

 line to Gafsa. Here we remained till May 17th, and on the 19th left 

 by the night train for Sfax. After spending about three days at this 

 coast town, the train was again taken for Tunis, via Sousse, the 

 journey being broken for a few hours at El Djem. Tunis was reached 

 on May 20th, where we remained till May 23rd, one day being devoted 

 to the hills about Hainmam Lif, and another to Carthage, &c. 



The country seen on these long railway journeys was on the 

 whole uninteresting till the fine gorge of the Seldja, about 7 miles 

 from Metlaoui, was reached, this defile being not unlike that of El 

 Kantara, well known to travellers proceeding to Biskra. A great deal 

 of cultivation (vines, olives, &c.) was observed in the neighbourhood 

 of Tunis, Sousse, Sfax, Kairouan, &c. ; but the main business of the 

 southern regions was the transpoi'tation of phosphates, extensive 

 quarries of which are worked at Metlaoui, &c. At Sbeitla large quan- 

 tities of esparto grass (halfa) are brought in on the backs of camels to 

 the railway for exportation. Now and then mountain peaks or ranges 



