414 First Impressions of Tunisia and Algeria. [ibis, 
scene we awoke next morning. The train was nearing 
Algiers, rushing through the most luxuriant countryside, 
woods carpeted with wild flowers, orchards in blossom, 
vineyards, acres o£ waving corn, and fields which looked 
greener than those in southern .France ! Goldfinches and 
Chaffinches and many woodland birds were seen on all sides; 
everywhere there were streams swollen beyond their banks. 
The town of Algiers—even if one stays at Mustapha 
Superieur-—is not in itself a convenient place from which 
to observe bird-life. Although the pine-woods at the back 
of Mustapha seemed full of the common species, and Green¬ 
finches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Corn-Buntings, etc., were 
observed in some numbers in the neighbourhood, the district 
is too populated to be really of much interest to the orni¬ 
thologist. Two Cuckoos were seen and heard in a pine-wood 
close to the hotel on 27th March—the first we had met with 
during our travels, and the only true birds of passage noted. 
Our last excursion was to the Ruisseau des Singes and the 
grand Gorge of Chiffa, a delightful drive, especially in the 
early spring. The views of the mountains were superb, and 
soon after entering the deep gorge, two great birds, which 
may have been Griffon Vultures, were observed sweeping 
along the mountain side many hundred feet above us, but at 
too great an elevation to identify. Three Kites were also 
seen at very close quarters just before we reached the gorge 
mouth. The apes which swarm on the mountain side, close 
to the little hotel, have become extraordinarily tame and 
come down in numbers—old males, females, and young—to 
be fed by the excursionists who make this naturally secluded 
spot their goal on a holiday. The sight of the apes running 
all over the roof of the hotel and climbing from balcony to 
balcony, entering the bedrooms whenever a chance occurred, 
did not inspire us to remain for the night, and we forthwith 
returned to Algiers. 
The following day, 29th March, we sailed for Marseilles in 
the S.S. ‘ Tirngad,’ full of regrets at leaving this wonderful 
country of forests and orchards, mountains and deserts. 
