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Mr. T. H. Newman,



vineyards which were still quite bare of leaves ; numerous flocks

of Goldfinches, Serins and Algerian Chaffinches were observed

among the vines. Lunch was taken at Cap Okras outside a little

inn overlooking the sea; a pair of large Birds of Prey were

circling round, they seemed to be the Desert Buzzard (Buteo

desertoruni), they finally settled in some trees. In the immediate

neighbourhood there were House Sparrows, Cirl Buntings,

Algerian Chaffinches and a small flock of White Wagtails. I

also came across an Algerian Coal Tit (Pams ledouci), a bright

coloured form, having the cheeks, nuchal spot and under-surface

lemon yellow. A pretty sight was afforded by a pair of (I think)

Willow-Wrens (Phylloscopus trochilus ) fluttering about a small

Apricot tree in full bloom. I very often saw little greenish

Warblers with more or less yellow superciliary stripes and under¬

parts, but cannot be sure if they were Willow or Wood Wrens,

though I have noted that some seemed yellower below than

others, and these birds I have called Wood Wrens. Continuing

the drive through the magnificent Cliabet Pass, where Algerian

Chaffinches seemed to be the commonest bird. At one place a

party of Barbary Apes ran across the road just in front and

scrambled up the rocks. The next day I saw nothing very re¬

markable ; House Sparrows had nests in trees by the side of the

road, a long distance from any house, while Blackbirds, Corn

Buntings, Larks and Goldfinches were very common, many Irby’s

Ravens, at one spot a large flock soaring over a hill ; one gets so

used to seeing this bird that one thinks no more of them than

Rooks at home, this familiar bird being absent from North-West

Africa. Several White Storks, the first nest seen being in a tree

near a farm building.


On arrival at Setif, train was taken to Constantine, which

was reached by eight in the evening. The Arab portion of this

town is a very favourite nesting resort of the White Stork ; on

the afternoon of the next day (March 16th) I counted eighteen of

these birds, all within a small area, sitting on or near their nests

placed on corners or projections on the flat roofs of the houses.

It was au interesting sight to see so many of these birds together,

every now and then one would fly up to its mate sitting on its

nest, when both birds would throw their heads back and, with



