400 
Mr. D. A. Bannerman : First Impressions [Ibis, 
Tunis I had, with Mr. Sclater, the pleasure of meeting 
Monsieur Lavauden, a French ornithologist, who is in 
charge of the “ Woods and Forests” department of the 
Government in Tunisia. Mons. Lavauden has an excellent 
knowledge of Tunisian birds, and gave us much interesting- 
information on the subject ; he has compiled a most useful 
little brochure on the Tunisian birds, which is noticed in the 
last number of 4 The Ibis 9 (cf. p. 326). Mr. Sclater also visited 
Mons. Blanchet, a local naturalist of considerable repute, 
whom I regret I did not have the pleasure of meeting. 
Both these gentlemen would, I feel sure, be willing to give 
unstintingly of their ornithological knowledge to any 
members of the B. 0. U. who may chance to visit Tunisia. 
Shooting restrictions in Tunisia are much simpler than in 
the adjoining country of Algeria. Firearms may be taken 
into the country so long as they are declared at the port of 
arrival. Gun licences cost under two francs, and only a 
small tax is charged on the importation of loaded cart¬ 
ridges. 
In the south game is said to be plentiful, the widely dis¬ 
tributed Dorcas Gazelle ( Gazella dorcas dorcas ) and Loder’s 
Gazelle ( Gazella leptoceros loder'i ), as well as the Addax 
Antelope ( Addax nasomaculatus nasomaculatus ), with its fine 
spiral horns, being found. The ordinary shooting-season 
lasts from the middle of August, at which early date few 
sportsmen will be tempted to brave the blazing sun of the 
plains, until the end of February; while doubtless the 
season would be extended for anyone collecting for scientific 
purposes, the French authorities looking with a friendly eye 
on all such pursuits. 
We left Tunis with deep regret in the early morning of 
February 16th, travelling by train into Algeria. Our 
destination was Hammam-Meskoutine, which took eleven 
hours to reach, but the magnificent scenery through which 
the line passes prevented any thought of tedium. Passing 
at first through fertile valleys, olive-clad slopes, and then 
bare hills, the scenery becomes grander as the higher alti¬ 
tudes are approached, often skirting, often crossing and 
