54 [March, 



were visible from the train, but we did not approach very near the 

 higher ground. From Metlaoui the line descends over uninhabited 

 dry stony regions, clothed with scattered spiny plants, the whole way 

 to the Arab villages adjacent to the palm-oases. Our collecting ground 

 was mainly confined to the following places : — 



(1) Tunis. — Carthage and the coast at Marsa, both easily and 

 expeditiously reached by electric railway, one line going across the 

 shallow lagoon to La Groulette and the other along its shore ; Hammam 

 Lif and the scrub-covered dry hill slopes above that place ; the beauti- 

 ful park and gardens of Belvedere and the adjacent Jardin d'Essai 

 just outside the town. 



(2) Kairouan. — The plain and gardens outside the walls, and 

 the hill of Djebel Baten, 13 kilometres distant. 



(3) Sbeitla. — An exposed district at a considerable elevation 

 (about 1700 feet), with an abundant water supply (which is carried 

 100 miles to Sfax), and a good deal of stony ground about the famous 

 temple and ruins of Sufetula, adjacent to which the arid places are 

 everywhere covered with scattered spiny plants. 



(4) Sfax. — The gardens inland along the Grabes road and the 

 coast north of the town, the portion to the south being wholly devoted 

 to the preparation of salt for export. 



(5) Gtafsa. — An old town and military station near the great 

 Oued Baiech, with a palm-oasis and desert adjacent, The old roman 

 Capsa. 



(6) Tozeue. — An excellent centre for excursions into the ex- 

 tensive, beautiful oases, the great Chott, &c, and with good accommo- 

 dation at the Bellevue Hotel. 



(7) Nefta. — A similar Arab town to the westward. The great 

 heat here, as at Tozeur, even in May, was somewhat trying. 



(8) El Djem.— An Arab village with fine Roman ruins 

 (Thysdrus), the ground about the place being mostly under cultiva- 

 tion and, in consequence, unproductive. 



The characteristic Coleoptera of the regions are, of course, the large 

 Tenebrionidee (Adesmia, Pimelia, Blaps, Ocnera,AJcis, Scaurus, Tentyria, 

 Pachychila, Erodius, Zophosis, Sepidium, and, in the north, Asida), 

 various Cicindelidse and Carabidte (amongst the latter the fine Anthise 

 and Graphipteri are well worth the journey to see actually at home), 

 Buprestidee (Julodis, Aurigena, Acmeeodera), Lamellicornia, (Scara- 



