BIRD LIFE IN EASTERN ALGERIA. 133 



polyglotta and H. jyallida were in song, the latter, of course, only 

 down by the river ; and I noticed the Wren, a Kingfisher, 

 Spotted Flycatchers, and the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) , a bird 

 I never saw lower down the Medjerdah valley. Near the town I 

 had seen House Sparrows as well as Spanish Sparrows, the latter 

 being the more numerous in the gardens of the scattered out- 

 lying houses. Some of these gardens were just then very gay 

 with scarlet or vermilion pomegranate flowers. I heard one or 

 two Cirl Buntings (Emberiza cirlus) singing, and watched a fine 

 old male at close quarters while it perched on a low Aleppo pine ; 

 it was a very brightly-coloured specimen, and quite a striking 

 bird. In a few minutes the female settled beside him. 



May 27th broke with some regular Welsh weather — thin 

 drifting rain and a chilly air (a great change to me just then), 

 but this gave way to fine weather, with a strong cold wind, about 

 8 a.m. I walked by a good road up to the higher ground above 

 the town, winding among vineyards at first, and then through 

 wide open pasture and corn-fields. It was a lovely country, with 

 green flowery pastures, corn, and vineyards, red-roofed farm- 

 houses, and fruit-trees. Beyond were bushed hills, and other 

 higher, barer ones, green or varied with grey rock, and bushed 

 in places. The air was most invigorating, and the place must be 

 exceedingly healthy. Quails (Coturnix communis) were calling 

 from the corn and grass. Goldfinches were flocked, and I saw as 

 many as thirty in a "charm." Sky Larks (Alauda arvensis) — 

 another bird not found lower down the valley — were singing, and 

 Crested Larks also; and I noticed some Tawny Pipits (Anthus 

 campestris) among the vines. The Tawny Pipit seems to me a 

 quieter, more sedate, and silent bird than any other species of 

 the genus Anthus with which I am acquainted. I saw no birds 

 of particular interest on my return journey down the valley. 



