409 
1921 .] of Tunisia and Algeria. 
sky for a chance sight of a Bearded Vulture ( Gypaetus 
barbatus barbatus). 
Just before the gorge is entered the train pulls up at the 
station of El Kantara. Ornithologists are recommended to 
make a stay at the Hdtel Bertrand, which has been built 
in a picturesque position almost in the mouth of the gorge 
itself. Apart from the possibility of seeing the Bearded 
Vulture, the great cliffs of the Djebel Metlili and the imme¬ 
diate ranges east of El Kantara are the breeding-place of 
Egyptian Vultures (. Neophron percnopterus percnopterus ), 
Golden Eagles ( Aquila chrysaetus ), and Bonellks Eagles 
(Eutolmaetus fasciatus fasciatus), African Buzzards ( Buteo 
ferox cirtensis ), Algerian Banner Falcons (. Falco biarmicus 
erlangeri ), Black Kites ( Milvus migrans migrans ), and pro¬ 
bably other accipitrine birds as well, a sufficiently interesting- 
collection to entice most ornithologists to break their journey 
to Biskra at this favoured spot. Many other birds, other 
than birds-of-prey, may be seen in the neighbourhood of 
El Kantara, and a week at least can be comfortably spent 
there, even if time is pressing. 
Many pens have doubtless attempted to describe the swift 
passage from the dark towering precipices of El Kantara 
and the grandeur of the Aures Mountains to the solitude and 
glare of the great Sahara. Truly has the gorge been called 
the Gate of the Desert. As the train approaches the 
apparently solid wall of rock, as viewed from the station, 
a glimpse is caught of a turbulent boulder-strewn stream 
rushing through the narrow pass and lined on either bank 
with palm and fruit trees ; above rise the great jagged cliffs, 
throwing everything far and wide into shade. The train 
winds in and out of three short tunnels, between which 
fascinating glimpses of the palms and bed of the rushing 
torrent are obtained. Suddenly the wall of cliff ends, and 
in a flood of light one gazes down upon a sea of waving 
palm-trees, and beyond the infinite space of the desert. 
Over the great plain of El Outaia, the forecourt of the 
Sahara, entirely encircled by mountains, the train slowly 
winds its way, stopping for a short while at the village and 
.2 E 2 
