Obituary. 353 
but this turned out to be the Black-headed Gull, and so far 
the expedition was a failure. Nevertheless, a most interest¬ 
ing campaign was carried on in the watery isle and adjacent 
coast of Sweden—some of the results being recorded in 
* The Ibis 3 (see “ Narrative of the Discovery of some Nests 
of the Black Woodpecker in Sweden,” Ibis, 1859, p. 264) 
and in the f Ootheca Wolleyana.' 
Probably the most enjoyable excursion in which Simpson 
shared was that undertaken by Tristram and Salvin in 
the year 1857. The introduction was effected through 
the good offices of Alfred Newton; and Salvin and Simpson 
started together from London early in February to join 
Tristram, already in North Africa. The three met at Tunis, 
and some time was spent in that highly interesting country, 
where archaeology and ornithology were alternately in the 
ascendant. 
At the latter end of March the “ caravan ” started 
for Algeria, via the famous valley of Roman ruins, to Kef, 
and thence over the somewhat lawless borderland to Souk- 
harras in the province of Constantine. From the day of 
their leaving Souk-harras, very early in April, to the day 
of their arrival at Constantine, towards the end of June, 
the party dwelt constantly in tents, and travelled on horse¬ 
back from place to place. From an ornithological point 
of view the country was almost a virgin one, and espe¬ 
cially the upper valley of the Medjerdah, where operations 
first commenced. The country was alive with birds of 
prey, from the stately Griffon to the querulous Black Kite, 
and other birds were equally interesting and demonstrative. 
The wretched “ Colon” had not yet potted everything, and 
there were even lions, long since extinct, for the followers of 
Jules Gerard to pursue. 
The early part of 1858 presents no particular features 
of interest. Simpson passed a few weeks in Argyllshire, 
looking out for shootings, and while thus engaged secured 
nests of the Buzzard and Hen-Harrier. 
When the British Ornithologists' Union was formally 
founded at Cambridge in November 1858, Simpson 
