THE ALGERIAN SAHARA. 43 
birds. Mr. Dresser, in the “Birds of Europe,” part XVII, 
says :— 
“ One of the least known of the Chats; this species has a very 
restricted range, and has hitherto only been met with in North- 
Wester Africa, Palestine, and Persia, not having as yet been re- 
corded from any portion of the large intervening tract of country.” 
He states that in summer the cock is much brighter than 
in winter, and figures the former plumage from a specimen 
obtained by Loche, who appears to have got them about 
the same time as Canon Tristram, but to have considered 
them the same as Dromolwa isabellina (cf. Ibis, 1859, p. 299). 
Hanging in the tent we had come to were the head 
and foot of a Griffon Vulture (x7s’sr), whilst several kids 
were tethered to a cord inside, and outside others gambolled, 
and occasionally got upon the roof. Not far off two 
Egyptian Vultures, an old one and a young one, were dis- 
cussing the skeleton of a defunct animal. They are most 
effective scavengers, never, I believe, leaving a carcass while 
a bone remains unpicked. The young one permitted a very 
near approach, but the old one was more wary. Well 
known are they to the Arabs by their name of Rackma. 
Here I had opportunity of looking at the women, who in 
general are so jealously guarded by their masters as to be 
invisible to the stranger's inquisitive eye. They are short 
and bent, probably from carrying heavy waterskins. They 
appear to be kind to their children, and give them bracelets 
and earrings made of shells, beads, and bright pieces of tin. 
But the Arab himself has few ornaments to deck his shabby 
tenement. In flocks and herds his wealth consists. If 
there be enough tents to form a circle, these are driven in 
and folded at night, and are guarded by dogs of a savage 
breed against the Hyenas and Jackals which are lurking in 
the weds. The Arab is his own cobbler, and a rough sort 
sort of (laced) boot he makes, but I suppose he thinks it 
better than walking barefoot over the soil, which in some 
