391 
1921 .] of Tunisia and Algeria. 
west of the town is surrounded by a wide stretch of sand, or, 
rather, mud, and must be largely resorted to by Waders. We 
were too far from it to note what birds were about, but two 
Herons (. Ardea cinerea ) were recognised flying heavily from 
shore to shore, just as the sun was rising and tipping the 
distant hills with gold. In all directions the land was under 
cultivation, green with the young corn, or else in course of 
being ploughed up by teams of eight oxen. Crested Larks 
were here observed in great numbers, and as the car flew 
along many seemed to court death by dusting themselves in 
the road, escaping the wheels as if by a miracle. Quite a 
number of Lapwings were noticed, not in flocks but singly 
or two or three together, and all very tame, not attempting 
to stir as we passed. Corn-Buntings, Starlings, Sparrows, 
and Goldfinches were all numerous in flocks, particularly the 
Goldfinches ( Carduelis carduelis africana). Brown Linnets 
(Acanthis cannabina mediterranea ) were also seen, but not in 
such numbers. Gradually the aspect of the country began 
to change, green fields gave way to olive-orchards, where 
Blackbirds* and Thrushes were noted for the first time. 
Several Common Kestrels were circling overhead, and as we 
dashed over a bridge a pair of Southern Little Owls ( Athene 
noctua glaux) darted out of an old olive-trunk. The road 
now began to ascend, and the slopes were everywhere thickly 
covered with scrub. Several Moorish Magpies ( Pica pica 
mauretanica) were here noticed, while the Algerian Shrike 
(Lanins excubitor algeriensis) was seen perched on the summit 
of a thorn-bush. As we gradually reached higher altitudes 
the sun was completely blotted out by many clouds which 
our chauffeur informed us always lay like a blanket over this 
particular part of the hilly countryside. Certainly it was 
unpleasantly cold, but as we neared Dougga the sun again 
flooded the landscape and lit up the truly wonderful ruins 
* It does not seem to have been settled whether the Blackbird 
inhabiting northern Tunisia is T. m. algirus —the race which inhabits 
northern Algeria—or whether it is T. m. mauretcinicus —the race which 
is found in southern Tunisia and southern Algeria; probably it will 
prove to be the former. 
SEE. XI.—VOL. III. 2 D 
