THE ALGERIAN SAHARA. 47 
pedition, for their courtesy to a stranger—a courtesy more 
stamped on the French than on any nation in the civilized 
world. 
Calling for a pipe (sebsi) and some tobacco, I had an 
opportunity of seeing the way the Mzab smoke, They 
brought me the bone of a sheep, about six inches long, with 
a bit of black leather fastened at the end. It was hollowed 
out, and in this makeshift for a bowl was inserted about 
half as much tobacco as one would put into an ordinary 
briar-root. The tobacco was quite green* and very strong, 
but fatigued as we were with the journey it was very accept- 
able, and had a soothing effect. 
It was a two-storied court where we were located. In 
the rafters I observed a pair of House Buntings (Pringzllaria 
sahare, Bp.). As this desert species is so little known in 
Europe, and as I was the first to bring the eggs and young 
to England, I shall be excused for copying in detail the 
account of it contributed by me to the “ Ibis.” 
“ Emberiza Sahari (Levt.) “ Exploration Scientifique de l’Algerie.” 
Plate IX., Bis. fig. 2. House Bunting of Tristram. 
“T think every house in Gardaia is tenanted by a pair of House 
Buntings. They are equally common in the other Mzab cities. A 
nest in the inner court at Berryan was upon some plaster in a large 
square hole. It contained one young one, yellow about the gape, 
and covered with a whitish down. It was a shallow nest made of 
the thin twigs of firewood, and lined with hair. The hen generally 
flew to it from the edge of the opposite wall. As I afterwards 
found other nests, I was able to make further observations. I think 
the eggs must be deposited in March, as in most instances the 
young had been hatched off. Judging from the one at Berryan, 
which had flown when I returned to that place on the last day of 
the month, the young remain in the nest at least twenty-one days. 
On the 23rd of April I saw a nestling full grown and able to feed 
® The tobacco smoked by the /e//aheen of Egypt, which they call 
Steedy, is green, 
