190 Mr. 0. Salvin’s Birds'-nesting in the Eastern Atlas. 
breeding in cliffs and Roman remains of sufficient height. When 
I visited El Hjem, in the Regency of Tunis, in February, I 
found the ruined amphitheatre tenanted by about twenty pairs. 
They are said to reside and to build their nests in the most in¬ 
accessible ledges of the structure. This amphitheatre is per¬ 
haps one of the finest Roman remains in the country, but is, I 
fear, destined to last no lengthened period; for, besides the 
ravages of time, the ruthless Arabs daily hasten its downfall by 
pulling out the stones, to employ them in the construction of 
their miserable hovels. Strange to say, we never obtained a 
single egg of this species. 
18. Circus ,eruginosus. (Marsh Harrier.) 
About the middle of May a violent hailstorm passed over us 
while we were encamped at Ain Hjendeli. The hailstones were 
of such a size, that the trees were stripped of their foliage, and 
many birds, even ducks, were killed. The day following, a 
Marsh Harrier, half-dead, was brought to our tents by an Arab, 
having, doubtless, been reduced to that state by exposure to the 
fury of the storm. It rallied a little on being taken into the 
tent, but died shortly afterwards. I have no other instance 
noted of our having met with this bird. 
19. Athene numida. Strix numida , Levaillant, Exploration 
Scientifique d’Algerie, Ois. pi. 4. (Algerian Little Owl.) 
This close ally of the Little Owl (A. noctua), if, indeed, it is 
really distinct, we found generally distributed, but nowhere 
abundant in the districts visited. While staying at Hjendeli, 
we obtained, towards the end of May, two nests, from off the 
eggs of one of which the bird had been caught. In the olive- 
groves about Tunis, this bird may frequently be met with. 
In this neighbourhood also it is said to breed, choosing for the 
position of its nest the wells and old Roman cisterns which so 
abound throughout the district. 
20. Scops zorca. (Scops-eared Owl.) 
In the Hjendeli district we found this Owl abundant; every 
night its peculiar cry might be heard from one or more indi¬ 
viduals. Several birds were brought to us by the Arabs, which 
had been caught on their nests. One of these, whose wing had 
