392 
Mr. D. A. Banner man : First Impressions [Ibis, 
we bad come to see. Surrounded by olive-trees, imposingly 
situated on the mountain-slope, from which a magnificent 
view of the adjoining country is obtained, the ruined Roman 
Capitol, Temples, and Theatre bear silent witness to the 
wonders of the Roman occupation. It was on the terraced 
steps of the Theatre that I made the acquaintance of one of 
the most delightful of Tunisian birds, Moussier’s Redstart 
'(.Diplootocus moussieri ), a male bird with his orange-brown 
breast and rump, black wings and head, and strikingly pure 
white frontal band, eye-stripe and alar patch, making a 
charming picture in such unique surroundings. Moussier’s 
Redstart is a typically northern African mountain bird, 
and certainly reminds one more of a Redstart than a Stone- 
chat. It is to be met with in both the northern and southern 
Atlas Ranges of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. I found it 
myself both at Dougga and at Hammam Meskoutine in the 
northern Atlas in February, while Hartert and Rothschild 
record it from the southern Atlas Ranges during the breed- 
ing-season and from the northern Sahara in winter. It is 
common in the Aures mountains of Algeria, and Whitaker 
notes that it is plentiful in the southern oases of Tunisia, 
leaving these districts in spring for the higher altitudes 
farther north. In the Moroccan Atlas this species is met 
with up to considerable altitudes, and Captain Lynes recently 
found it breeding commonly in the “Middle-Atlas” Range 
(Ibis, 1920, p. 296). 
Birds were plentiful in the olive-groves of Dougga, Star¬ 
lings and Thrushes (both winter visitors), Chaffinches, and 
Blue-Tits being observed. The former is a resident Tunisian 
subspecies ( Fringilla coelebs spodiogenys) , while the latter is 
the common north-west African race of the Blue Titmouse 
(.Parus cceruleus ultramarinus ). In some high cliffs close to 
Douo-oa a number of Rock-Pigeons were observed. As none 
were obtained, I cannot say to which race they belonged. 
Considering that the day was spent in examining Roman 
remains, the number of birds seen which could be identified 
without any doubt was distinctly encouraging, for of course 
a few others were noted which I dare not attempt to name. 
