408 
Mr. D. A. Bannerman : First Impressions [Ibis, 
o£ Chott Tinzilts, birds, if present, could not escape notice. 
Backed by distant snow-capped mountains, the blue expanse 
of water, surrounded by low, absolutely barren, reddish- 
tinted hills, made a singularly attractive picture, and only 
needed the Flamingoes to complete the scene. 
Beyond “ Les Lacs ” great plains stretch to El Mahder, 
covered when not under cultivation with camel grass, where 
numerous large flocks of Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris ) 
were observed. Considering the poor quality of much of 
the soil, the extent of land under cultivation is really 
remarkable. As we neared Batna the mountains, still 
deeply capped with snow, increased in altitude, and were, 
as we soon discovered, thickly clothed with forest and scrub ; 
the forest covers a large area as seen from the train alone, 
and consists, I believe, chiefly of cedar mixed with oak. 
Batna, which is also the home of a great number of White 
Storks, is perhaps the best centre from which to explore the 
Aures Mountains. It was from here that Dr. Hartert set 
out to ascend Djebel Mahmel, the type-locality of Seebohm’s 
Wheatear (CEnanthe oenanthe seebohmi), whilst the oak woods 
above Lambese maybe conveniently worked from that place. 
Between Batna and Biskra the train carries one past varied 
scenery—first through a wide valley flanked on either side by 
hills thickly covered with cedar forest, known as the Foret 
d'Ichali, then through plains partly cultivated, partly grazing- 
land, but with every kilometer the vegetation becomes more 
scanty and less green than farther north. By the time 
Tamarin is reached the country has already taken on quite 
a desert aspect. Close to the little station, where pome¬ 
granates, apricots, and tamarisks—the fruit-trees in fall 
blossom—seemed to be almost the last sign of cultivation, 
six Common Cranes were seen in a field. South of Tamarin, 
barren undulating hills, cut up by dry nullahs, heralded the 
approach of the desert, and soon the line ascended into wild 
mountainous country, where the rugged hills were clothed 
only with the scantiest of plant-life. There was not a tree 
in sight, not even a nomad's tent. We were now close to 
the famous gorge of El Kantara, and eagerly scanned the 
