292



Mr. T. H. Newman,



yellow throat and breast, so they may have been Wood Wrens

(.Phylloscopus sibilatrix). A graceful little greyish bird with a

longish tail, which it raised above its back like a Dartford

Warbler, was hopping about at the base of a small bush, I took

it for a Marmora’s Warbler ( Melizophilus sard us), an interesting

species said to be of very local distribution. I also saw several

Blackcaps, a couple of common Starlings, an Ultramarine Tit,

some Kestrels and a few Irby’s Ravens ; turning across some

fields I met with some Barks, which appeared to be the Greater

Small-billed Crested Lark (Galerida tlieklce majo> ) which is a very

dark form found mostly in hilly country in the north. Birds

seem plentiful round Constantine, and I have no doubt would

well repay a few days spent in their study in the neighbourhood,

as interesting species might be met with. Unfortunately I had

to hurry on and left at midday ; as the El Kantara bridge over the

Gorge was crossed, on the way to the station, several Egyptian

Vultures could be seen flying in the distance, and just before

stepping into the train, a Stork was noticed soaring aloft, it

alighted on a tall chimney ; from the train many more were seen,

as many as eight together in a marshy field. Several nests were

seen built in trees, one quite low, on another tree were two close

together each with its attendant pair of birds; an Egyptian

Vulture on the ground, while many Kestrels and Larks were

also noted.


Batna was reached about six o’clock. I was awakened by

the chattering of Storks and found a pair had a nest on the top

of the cupola of the Church tower, just opposite my windows ;

several others were near, but they were not so numerous as at

Constantine. Most of the day was taken up by the long tedious

drive to and from Timgad. Many Larks were seen in the open

country, among them, I believe, the Calandra ( Melanocorypha

calandra ), a large species with a conspicuous black patch on each

side of the breast, a few Kestrels, many Irby’s Ravens, a White

Wagtail. A pair of Storks had their nest on the top of the old

Roman arch at Markoura, near Lambessa, which is passed on the

way, At Timgad itself I only noticed a cock Black Redstart

(Ruticilla titys ) and a pair of Moussier’s Redstarts ( Diplootoncs

vioussieri) flying about the deserted houses ; this lovely little bird

delights to resort to the neighbourhood of ruins during the



