80 Mr. J. J. S. Whitaker un some Tunisian Birds. 



the most important on the African continent. On the 25th 

 of February I made an excursion to some marshes about 

 10 miles north of Tebessa^ where I had been told I should 

 meet with an abundance of water-fowl of all sorts^ but was 

 disappointed, Snipe and a few Ducks being all that I saw. 

 On the 26th, having hired mules for the journey to Kasrin, 

 we made an early start^ and after nine hours of slow travel- 

 ling across dreary alfa plains^ separated by ridges of pine-clad 

 hills, we arrived at an Arab '' douar" or encampment, where 

 our guides advised our passing the night, as it was too late 

 to reach our destination before dark. Resuming our journey 

 the following morning, as soon as it was light enough to 

 distinguish the track, for road there was none, we finally 

 reached Kasrin about midday. 



During this journey I saw but few birds, some pairs of 

 Ravens (presumably Corvus tingitanus) and an occasional 

 Lesser Bustard [Otis tetrax) on the plains, and Saxicola 

 leucura, Athene ylaux, and Caccabis petrosa among the hills, 

 being the most noticeable. The pretty little marmot Cteno- 

 dadylus gundi was also abundant among the rocks. 



At Kasrin, where, instead of the flourishing town or village 

 I had been led to expect, there was literally nothing but 

 Roman ruins and a few deserted Arab huts, we spent four 

 days very pleasantly, the air being splendid and the sur- 

 rounding country and scenery charming. During my stay 

 there, I made excursions to the neighbouring mountains in 

 search of mouflon {Ovis tragelaphus) and mountain antelope 

 {Gazella cuvieri), but only succeeded in getting two of the 

 latter, both females, while of the former we only saw one, and 

 that without being able to get a shot at it. In the way of birds 

 I obtained nothing very rare at Kasrin, although, as is always 

 the case in these southern parts, where water is abundant, 

 there was no lack of bird-life. Kestrels, both Tinnunculus 

 alaudarius and T. cenchris, Athene glaux, Columba livia, and 

 some of the Chats and Redstarts being plentiful among the 

 ruins and rocky hills, while Larks, Wagtails, Linnets, Thrushes, 

 and Partridges abounded in the sprouting corn-fields and 

 among the slender bushes lower down near the water. The 



