on a Naturalist's Ramble in Algeria. 73


taxidermist’s shop where I got three skins made from birds

I bought in the flesh. They were Barbary Partridges, Barn Owl,

and Kestrel. They cost about two francs each : very different

from the prices one would pay in England,, and the work was

neatly done too. In the shop I saw a Gallinule, Booted Eagle,

Hoopoe, Nightjar, Bee-eater, and Jay, also some Bitterns and

Cranes. I bought a Black-winged Kite, set up as if killing a

Bee-eater, for seven francs.


On the 3rd of March we reached Bougie, a pretty little

seaport with some splendid cliff scenery not far from the hotel.

Here we first saw Egyptian Vultures feeding on a large rubbish

heap close to the sea.


These particular birds did not strike me as being so

repulsive as one is generally made to believe Vultures are.

With the aid of my glass I had a splendid view, although I could

not get so near as some Arabs who were working in the rubbish

heap close to them : when I tried to approach they all rose, some

going to the trees, others circling round and flying off towards

the mountains. Round the splendid cliffs near Cap Carbon,

which are about 1000 feet high, I often saw a pair of the larger

Hawks circling; Ravens too were plentiful. One day, down

near the sea, I had the pleasure of watching for some time the

movements of a Rock Thrush as it ran over the rocks.


Mammals were scarce ; one day I saw a mongoose quietly

trotting across the road. Porcupines are said to be common in

the scrub; a skin of one hung in the salon of the hotel, said to

have been killed near Bougie. Their quills were used for taking

snails from their shells at lunch: a first rate tip for those who

like snails.


On the way to Biskra we passed through a great variety of

country; near the sea one notices rich red soil, then the railway

mounts up into small pine forests ; finally, after passing through

great grass plains, it enters the great Sahara desert close to

Biskra. Large numbers of Storks were seen close to the

line ; they have their nests on the trees, and when one gets

away from the tree country they build on the farm houses*

sometimes two on one roof. On one of the salt lakes we noticed



