260 Capt. Lyiies on the Ornilhohyy [Ibis, 



V. — Ornitlioloyij of the Maroccan ''Middle-Atlas." 

 By Captain Lynes. 



(Plates III.-XII.) 



, Part I. — Itinerary. 



We, in the Navy, who in peace time have chosen to 

 supplement our j)rofessional duties by tlie more active 

 pursuits of the field, have sometimes found their curtail- 

 ment, caused by the conjunction of Neptune and Bellona, 

 rather trying to the internal economy ; it was therefore not 

 entirely mere pleasure-seeking that, the Armistice having 

 closed the more serious pages of the wiir, led me to give up 

 command of the ' Warspite ' and obtain permission to get a 

 little nearer the sun. 



The companion who started with me, also in search of a 

 '* cure,' had scarcely arrived at (lib. than he was recalled 

 to England, and in consequence it was alone, with a mode- 

 rate equipment, little more to recommend myself tlian an 

 introduction to our Miin'ster for Marocco, and feeling rather 

 like a bird newly-escaped from its cage^ that I landed at 

 Tangier last 12th of April. 



Marocco had been chosen for its climate and accessibility, 

 it was near home in case anything unexpected happened, 

 and our meagre knowledge of its Natural History * afforded 

 ample scope for some useful work among the Birds. 



But, save for a vague sketch programme based on the 

 probability of the Great-Atlas and Central parts being in- 

 accessible, and that therefore, if the non-shooting difficulty 

 could be overcome, to follow up Mr. Meade-Waldo's work f in 

 the Forest of Mamora would present the best chance, I had 

 about as much idea as the man in the moon as to the possi- 

 bilities of travel, where to go, or how to get there. 



However conspicuous the fact that one may avoid being 

 quite a Mr. Verdant Green by '' reading-up *" the country 



* J'ide Appendix I, " Notes on Orn. Bibliograpliy of Marocco," 

 t nV7eIbis, 1905, p. 161, 



