56 Mr. P. W, Munu — Oniithulogical 



tlie deserted nest of a large bird of prey were tlie only otlier 

 nests I found in the clump. Storks in Marocco often build on 

 the roofs of the frail huts of the Moors in the villages. 



On nearing the sea we had a rough ride along the cliffs, 

 through a dense pathless scrub of palmetto^ myrtle, gum-cistus, 

 holly, heather, and other scrubby plants, and in and out of 

 ionuraerable rocky ravines, the sides of which were too steep 

 to be ridden down and had to be negotiated on foot, and on 

 hands as well occasionally. The tower was built on the 

 highest point of the Cape, and was a square, whitewashed 

 structure, entered by a rope-ladder let down from a window 

 20 feet from the ground. It was occupied by an old Moor, 

 who appeared to subsist principally on Gulls'" eggs and 

 crustaceans — judging from the shells. 



Besides the Gulls and Cormorants here, there were several 

 Buzzards {Buteo desertorum) which were nesting in the 

 cliffs, and in a marsh near were a small flock of Mallards 

 {Anas boscas), the Ducks probably nesting among the scrub 

 surrounding it, while a Marsh-Harrier was hunting along the 

 opposite bank. 



The evenings at Tetuan were usually spent on the roof 

 of the house, watching the crowds of Swifts, both Cypselus 

 apus and C. murmus, sweeping about the buildings, the 

 Sparrows [Passer domesticus) busily employed in family 

 duties, and a pair of Swallows [Hirundo rustica) which flew 

 in and out of the patio, where they had a nest with young. 

 The river-bank, near the remains of the fine bridge which 

 once spanned the stream, was also a favourite evening resort, 

 and many of the beautiful Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) were 

 always to be seen here, perching on the solitary fig-trees 

 among the corn. From the appearance of their beaks and 

 tail-feathers they were nesting near. A single White-bellied 

 Swift [Cypselus melba) I saw here one evening, along with a 

 belated flight of tlie other species. 



After a stay at Tetuan I left at 5.30 one morning on 

 mule-back for Tangier, which I reached at 4.30 in the after- 

 noon after ten hours in the saddle, having made two short 

 halts on the way — for breakfast at a fondak about fifteen 



