(21 ) 



Oenanthe leacop>/ga. There were signs of slight rain having I'liUen during our 

 absence. We both went out, iu various directions, for long hours, to stalk gazelles 

 or Barbary-sheep, but only Hilgert saw game, and shot a buck of Gazella Isabella. 

 The 27th was a dull day, the sun not coming through before late in the afternoon, 

 and next morning we had some short rain-showers, though only a few large drops 

 each time, not enough to moisten the surface of the ground; but towards the 

 evening a heavy gale set in. The long stalk was, in spite of the negative results, 

 very interesting. I ascended the highest peaks, and found the wildest possible 

 landscape to the south-west, enormous cliffs and deep gorges, and one might have 

 fancied oneself in a big mountain range, above the forest belt, when a thick mist 

 hung over the country in the early morning. The stones are so sharp that one 

 day's walk may hopelessly spoil a pair of boots. The river-beds at the foot of the 

 cliffs on the eastern side contained Xizijithiis-h\\%\iQS, those on the western side 

 acacias. No resident Passerine birds were seen in these silent, beautiful oueds, 

 except the Xmmcmanes and rarely a pair of the Oenanthe, but of migrants 

 Mofncilla Jluca tkuiibergi, Mtisc/'capa /n/poleuca /n/poleiica {atricapilla auct.), 

 FIiillloscopiis collyhita,, Chelidon rustica, and Tartur turtur (probably arcnicola) 

 were observed. 



On the following day we entered once more the interesting Southern Oued Mya 

 region. There were, however, now less flowers and verdure, as many plants had 

 ripe seeds and were dried up. Besides, unfortunately, nomads with goats and 

 camels had been there, and much of the small vegetation had been destroyed by 

 them. The Celerio lineata livornica as well as its caterpillars had disappeared, 

 and Pieridae were less numerous, though a species new to us, Pieris ylauconome, 

 was caught, and a new Melitaaa, which we at once recognised as being smaller aud 

 paler than M. d'ulijma deserticola. from the northern .Sahara. The first example 

 was seen and caught on April 30th. 



What surprised us was the number of migratory birds that were still about, 

 such as Ilijjpolais pallida opaca, reiseri and pob/glotta, Phyllo&copus bondli and 

 trocliilus, Plia'nicHrus pkwnicurus, Motacilla ^fiaoa thtinbergi , Chelidon nistica, 

 Riparia, Antlius, Lanius senatoi- and others, and more about this will be said in 

 the ornithological chapter. The nights were as cold as two months ago, and on 

 May I we had a minimum of -)- 4° C, while at midday the shade temperature 

 rose to 33'. The following night, however, was the last cold night, and after 

 this the temperature never fell lielow 12° to 15°. 



In the Oued BIya region the Barbary-sheep is common. We saw many traces, 

 aud succeeded in shooting a good adult male, not far from Tilmas Djilrhempt. 



On May 7 we reached Fort Miribel, passing over the barest stony stretches 

 imaginable. Terrible and bad for the camels' feet as the hammada may be, there 

 is, after all, sometimes a little vegetation in certain deep ravines off the caravan 

 routes. I have no doubt that even the worst hammada would bring forth a bit 

 of verdure here and there if mild rains existed ; but rain is exceedingly scarce, and 

 when it comes it falls in torrents and for a short time, so that the water rushes 

 over the rocks down to the river-beds in an incredibly short time. 



We were disappointed with our results on the lamps. Besides a few species 

 of Pyrals which occurred in great numbers, we caught rather few Macrolcpidoptera, 

 and a good many of those were much worn. Beetles were, however, much more 

 numerous than a month ago. 



llather disijuieting was the great number of the poisonous Horned Viper, 



