23S



Mr. T. H. Newman,



until last, so that now everything was seen in nearly the reverse

order. The Black-headed Gulls here had very black heads.


In the afternoon of the iotli, a long, beautiful drive was

taken along the Mustapha Hill, and back round by the Botanical

Gardens (Jardin d’Essai), noted chiefly for its wealth of Palms;

the flowers in the gardens were very beautiful, many houses

being covered with purple masses of Bougainvillea or orange-

yellow Bignonia, while lovely Roses were in profusion, Cinerarias

were the usual bedding plants, while the ground was carpeted

with Freesias, Violets, and a host of other flowers. Many birds

were about, the Jardin d’Essai was swarming with Blackcaps

(Silvia atricapilla ), which were very lively, singing and chasing

one another, and seemed in no way depressed by the rain which

was falling at the time; they were mostly cock birds, but I

noticed a good many hens, these would be more likely to hide,

so expect they were equally numerous to the cocks. March nth

was spent in an excursion to the Chiffa Gorge. A whole family

of Barbary Apes were sitting in the trees near or on the roofs of

the out-buildings of the little Inn at the head of the Gorge,

some were so tame that they would take food from the hand.

I saw a good many small birds, among them, I believe the

Yellow Bunting, a rather uncommon bird, a Kestrel was flying

about some rocks, I just caught sight of a Martin, which, from

the locality, was probably a Rock Martin. I was very anxious

to see something more of the Grey-rumped Rock Doves I had

seen here before, but I only saw a pair flying along the face of

the cliff, which did not give me time to make much examination ;

however, I received confirmation that Rock Doves with ashy or

bluish-coloured rumps do occur not unfrequently in this region.

Unfortunately it turned very wet when I was at the Gorge, so I

was able to see very little of the birds.


The next day was Sunday. In the afternoon I walked up

to the old Chasba above the town ; the tall Eucalyptus trees were

full of Serin Finches singing their cheerful little songs ; every

now and then a bird would give a little flight straight up into

the air and return to the same branch; theie were also some

brown birds among them, Linnets I think, a Blackcap was bath¬

ing in a ditch, House Sparrows were numerous. A little later



