ioo STRA Y FEA THERS FROM MANY BIRDS. 



dumb creatures more helpless than themselves. In the 

 prickly pear gardens the Rufous Warbler may be seen, 

 hopping along the tops of the rough walls and running 

 in and out under the curious vegetation. 



Travelling farther to the south, we reach the still 

 more beautiful and characteristic oasis of Biskra. This 

 charming fertile spot is a favoured haunt of bird-life. 

 Gorgeous Bee-eaters utter their plaintive notes as they 

 sit on the tree tops } or glide gracefully about like 

 Swallows above the date palms ; gaudy Golden Orioles 

 sing richly from the dense pomegranates, and every 

 now and then we catch a glimpse of their brilliant 

 yellow dress as they chase each other through the 

 foliage. Shrikes and Babblers sit conspicuously on the 

 tops of the bushes, and the feathery crowns of the date 

 palms are resonant with the full rich cooing of Turtle 

 Doves. The Little Crake, the Little Ringed Plover, and 

 the Grebe, revel by the water side amongst the reeds ; and 

 the air is full of Swallows and Swifts. These Algerian 

 oases are the winter quarters of many of our familiar 

 British birds, or the places of call of many others which 

 visit more southerly latitudes during that season. Here 

 in the early spring-time, vast numbers of Spotted Fly- 

 catchers, Willow Wrens, Thrushes, Turtle Doves, Shrikes 

 and Warblers, are holding high carnival waiting for 

 summer, when they will pass on to European haunts. 

 Many old friends are here to greet us, and mingle 



