176 Mr. O. Salvin’s Five Months 9 Birds’-nesting 
salt lakes form so marked a characteristic of the range, was our 
next resting-place, from which we gradually felt, as it were, our 
way westward to Djendeli. In this neighbourhood we passed 
the remainder of the month of May, our final camp, in June, 
being situated on the borders of a small marsh which lies to the 
westward of the high road between Constantine and Batna. On 
quitting this spot, we proceeded to Constantine, and thence 
to Philippeville, after having parted with our horses, tents, and 
every disposable thing. At Philippeville we took the coasting 
steamer to Algiers, and bid a final adieu to North Africa on the 
11th of July. 
The following observations are taken from notes made with 
reference to the specimens shot and the eggs collected during 
the expedition, and are given, with a few exceptions, nearly as I 
have them written. 
1. Gypaetus barbatus. (The Lammergeyer.) 
The first opportunity I had of observing this finest of birds 
was in the neighbourhood of Souk Harras in the first week in 
April. In a ramble in search of a spot for our encampment, we 
discovered an eyrie in one of the stupendous cliffs that charac¬ 
terize that district. It was quite inaccessible; and we had to 
bear our disappointment, as well as a good wetting, and return to 
the hotel (if the house where we put up may be designated by 
such a title) after an almost fruitless day. We were not then 
aware that the eggs of this species had long been hatched. On 
encamping at Djebel Dekma on the 4th of April, more frequent 
opportunities were afforded us of becoming acquainted with this 
bird. This mas3 of precipitous rocks is one of the most interest¬ 
ing and curious in the country. The strata form an angle of 
about 20° with the vertical, and, dipping towards the north, 
present a comparatively flat face with bushes and shrubs growing 
out of the interstices. The southern cliff is more broken and 
the strata much more horizontal. Towards the east these two 
parallel precipices dwindle to nothing, while westward they are 
abruptly terminated by another broken precipice which cuts the 
first two at right angles. In the centre of this group, and at 
its highest point, the whole mass is parted, leaving a rugged 
