364 More Notes from North-West AJtica.


were tlie favourite resort of Scorpions. Swallows, Corn Buntings

and a Hoopoe were also seen.


Returned to Tunis on the evening of the 5th. The next

day being my last in Africa I thought I would spend it in a visit

to the DjevelRessas or Read Mountain, a somewhat isolated peak

a few miles to the S.E. of Tunis, as I knew it to be the haunt of

Vultures and other birds. A light railway runs to Ravarie at the

foot of the mountain, the lower slopes are covered with Juniper

Scrub, among which small birds such as Goldfinches, Algerian

Chaffinches, Serins, Ultramarine Tits and Warblers were common.

After a somewhat stiff climb I reached the top, which somewhat

resembled a gigantic rock garden, as the spaces between the rocks

were bright with the varied hues of a multitude of beautiful

flowers, also a most wonderful view was obtained on all sides.

On one side, in the distance, Tunis could be seen with the sea

beyond, while on others, miles of open country or rocky heights

lay spread before one ; there was no lack of birds, though not so

many as I had hoped to see. Ravens flew round the higher

Doints, several Barbary Partridges were on the very top, as well as

a flock of Rinnets, Ultramarine Tits, a fine cock Moussier’s Red¬

start ; a Rock-dove dashed round at a tremendous pace, a female

Kestrel flew backwards and forwards below, a beautiful Serpent

Eagle, recognisable by its boldly banded undersurface, flew over

my head, while round a distant corner two large birds disappeared,

which I think were Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus)\ a colony of

these birds nested here for many years and may still do so. Not

a long list, but, nevertheless, I much enjoyed this excursion into

the country. I got back to Tunis about six in the evening. At

Tunis most of the Sparrows seemed to be Spanish. One morning

I think I saw some Sand Martins among a number of Swallows

and House Martins.


April 7th, at mid-day, Tunis was left behind. Several

Yellow-legged Herring Gulls and Black-headed, both adult and

young, but none with dark hoods, were flying about the harbour.

Just outside the Tunis canal I saw several Mediterranean Shear¬

waters (Puffinus kuhli ) flying singly, low over the water. Thus

ended another five weeks visit to this interesting land, where

plenty of bright, hot sunshine was found, while frost and snow

were raging at home.



