1921 .] of Tunisia and Algeria. 399 
Two nights were spent in Kairouan, and from there we 
travelled south over the vast plain passing the great salt 
lake Sebkra Sidi-el-Hani, and thence in a south-easterly 
direction to El Djem. Quite a number of Cranes were seen 
on this part of the journey, but little else of interest save 
the ever present Larks. El Djem boasts a railway station, 
a small but quite comfortable hotel, an exceedingly filthy 
Arab village, and the finest monument left by the Romans in 
Tunisia, an Amphitheatre, colossal in size and wonderfully 
well preserved, rivalling the Colosseum in Rome. The 
Amphitheatre is evidently the breeding-place of numerous 
Rock-Pigeons (Columba livia ) and many Kestrels. Six or 
eight of the latter could be seen soaring above the ruin, 
or else busily engaged in nesting preparations on the highest 
remaining tiers. Near the Arab village, I remarked a 
Crested Lark with exceptionally pale sandy-coloured plumage, 
but as I did not obtain it, I will not venture to give it a 
name. One would not expect to find either of the true 
desert forms so far north as El Djem. The first part of the 
route from El Djem to Susa passes through much the same 
type of country, the same desert aspect and the same paucity 
of bird-life as observed between Kairouan and El Djem. 
As we neared the latter town the landscape quickly changed, 
rolling olive-clad hills, broken up by deep nullahs, succeeded 
the plains, and the birds of the orchards at once made their 
appearance : Turtle-Doves were seen for the first time, as 
well as Blackbirds, Thrushes, Buntings, Warblers, etc. 
Staying the night at Susa, we returned to Tunis by the 
coast-road. From what I saw of the north I am sure a tour 
in the south—Gabes, Sfax, Gafsa, Nefta,, etc.—would prove 
of exceptional interest, especially to anyone attracted, as I 
am, by desert scenery and desert fauna and flora. A very 
pleasant trip, and one which would give the traveller an 
excellent insight into desert life, would be to travel from 
Gabes—a port on the south-east coast of Tunisia—by train 
or car to Nefta, and from there by camel caravan into 
Algeria via El Oued and Touggourt, whence the railway 
would bring him to Biskra in nine hours. While at 
