46 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



proximity to the soutberi) range of hills, there is much broken ground 

 and numerous watercourses, dry as a rule, intersecting the plain. In 

 the immediate vicinity of Eas-el-Aioum, through which flows the 

 Oued Seldja, tlie vegetation is of a less stunted nature ; and by the 

 river-banks there is a thick growth of tamarisks and oleanders, the 

 favourite haunt of many birds. Oglet-Zelles stands a little higher 

 than Eas-el-Aioum ; and being situated near the centre of the plain, 

 has a more open and less broken country, but in other respects the 

 two districts resemble each other. 



"The first nest taken at Eas-el-Aioum I found on April 13th. 

 It was placed in a hole at the foot of a low marl cliff, a bare spot, 

 destitute of vegetation. The hole, which was just large enough to 

 admit the easy passage of the bird, extended nearly a yard in length, 

 in a horizontal direction, with a bend about half-way. The nest, 

 placed at the further extremity of the hole, was cup-shaped, and fairly 

 large for the size of the bird. It was composed exteriorly of coarse 

 grass-bents, rather loosely put together, with finer and softer grass 

 inside, and lined plentifully withwool and hair, both camels' and goats'. 

 The eggs, which unfortunately were rather hard sat upon, were five 

 in number, and of a very delicate, pale-greenish blue, sparsely spotted, 

 and principally at the larger end, with spots of a pale lake-colour. 

 The following are the dimensions of three of the eggs which I' 

 measured : (a) 24 x 17 mm. ; (b) '23 x IG mm. ; (c) 24 x 16 mm. 



"The second nest, also taken at Kas-el-Aioum on April 13th, 

 was placed in a hole in a marl cliff, like the first; but as this cliff 

 formed one of the banks of a dry water-course, the hole was about five 

 feet from the ground, or bed of the stream, a providential instinct 

 having no doubt taught the bird to avoid a possible catastrophe. As 

 in the first instance, this hole extended nearly a yard in length in a 

 horizontal direction, but without any bend. The nest and eggs, of 

 which there were again five, apparently the full complement, resembled 

 those previously found. These eggs were also somewhat incubated. 

 I did not measure any of them, but they appeared identical with the 

 first clutch. In digging out this nest I unearthed a rather large 

 scorpion, which made me wonder how these birds can bring up their 

 young safely, exposed as they are, particularly those nesting in holes 

 in the ground, to so many dangers. 



" The third nest I took at Oglet-Zelles on April 17th. In this 

 instance the hole, which was probably the deserted home of some 



