More Notes f/om North- West Africa. 287


MORE NOTES FROM NORTH-WEST AFRICA.


By T. H. Newman, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.


It may be remembered that last summer ( Avic. Mag., I.

3rd series), I wrote some rough notes 011 the birds seen in

Algeria and Tunis in November and December 1909. Having

again gone over the same ground during March and April of this

year, the season, therefore, being three months more advanced,

it may be of sufficient interest to record what I saw this time,

though I fear I have even less to relate than before.


England was left on March 6tli. A number of Gulls were

noticed at Folkestone—mostly Herring—the greater number im¬

mature ; there were also a good many Black-headed Gulls, most

of which had nearly completely assumed their dark hoods.

While crossing the Channel I saw two Cormorants half flying,

half swimming, in order to get out of the way of the boat;

further off a number of Guillemots or Razorbills were swimming

about and diving.


The next day, between Paris and Marseilles, a few Rooks

were observed and, of course, many Magpies, as many as seven

together at one place. A large brown Bird of Prey sitting on a

rail, and which afterwards flew round in a circle as the train

went by, appeared to be a Common Buzzard. O11 the morning

of the 8th I strolled round the Marseilles Zoo, which was looking

more neglected than ever. I did not notice anything of much

interest, but gave most attention to my favourite Doves, of which

I saw a pair of Blue-spotted Doves (Chalcopelia afra), some

Tambourine Doves had some very conspicuous dark purple spots

•on their wings ; there were also Half-collared, Barred, Common

Turtle and Barbary Doves, as well as some Turtle x Barbary

Hybrids. Great Tits were numerous in the tall trees in the

Gardens, and some Warblers were singing sweetly in the shrubs,

but were shy and kept out of sight. The Black headed Gulls at

Marseilles were not nearly so far advanced with their breeding

plumage as those at Folkestone. The afternoon and most of the

next day were spent at sea ; landed at Algiers about four in the

afternoon, the weather being dull and inclined to rain, for this

time Algiers was first visited ; while before, this place was left



