274 Capt. Lynes on the Ornithology [Ibis, 



edoe,aiKl Nvitli clumps of cedars deficient in undergroAvtli on 

 some' of the more rocky ridges. The "Crest-mounds" are 

 a jumble of giant midden-like mounds of dark earth profusely 

 mingled with limestone boulders and stones, half- clad ^Yith 

 hawthorns and small Ilex trees and bushes. But, attractive 

 as it looks, this zone has comparatively little wealth ot bird- 

 life. Woodlarks are very numerous (but no Skylarks or 

 Sliorelarks), Rock-sparrows favour this zone ; these, and a 

 few Tawny-pipits are the chief inhabitants of the more open 

 parts : the cedar clumps, however, retain some of the forest 

 species and add the Hoopoe and Starling in considerable 

 numbers. Here, with the first streaks of dawn, foxes, 

 civets, boars, etc., may be seen making for their forest Ian- 

 after a night on the " Plateau.'' 



The " Plateau," save for that of its volcanic kopjes and 

 craters, is devoid of tree-growth. In spring and summer, 

 with the exception of the few groups of protruding boulders, 

 and the loAvest parts of the long sweeps that have retained 

 winter's rain and snow until too late in the year for Nature 

 to clothe them, the whole expanse is covered with rich 

 pasture. Everywhere the ground rings hollow to the 

 tread : there must surely be impervious rock not very far 

 down? in order to hold up the " dayas " so late in the 

 season— some indeed, all the year round (see Plate YIII.). 

 On the Plateau itself, Seebohm's Wheatear, Atlas Shore- 

 lark, and Skylark abound, and in summer practically roi/a 

 tous\ save for an occasional Tawny Pipit or Qnail ; in winter. 

 Snipe and Wildfowl are found there. Jerboas honeycomb 

 the Plateau with their holes. 



The bird-life of those " Volcanic kopjes "»and " Craters " 

 which possess tree growth is much the same as that of the 

 Upper Forest and " Barrens ; " it depends somewhat on the 

 amount of undergrowth, but the Raven, both the Wood- 

 peckers, Hoopoe, Moussier's Redstart, Creeper, Spotted Fly- 

 catcher, and Coal-tit, are almost certainties; and if the 

 undergrowth is good, add the Blackbird, Robin, Wren, and 

 T/ippoIais jwh/f/lotta. 



On the 29th of June we visited a large " daya '" on the 



