( 25G ) 



53. Saxicola pleschanka. 



Saxicola pleschanh:! (Lepech.) ; Barnes, Jbis 1893, p. 76 ; Yerbury, Ibis 1896, p. 24. 



a. (J ad. Wadi Bana, Abian Country. September 29th. 



h. ? ad. Al Khaur, Wadi Hassan, Abian Country. October 5th. 



This Chat was first observed by the late Mr. Barnes, in the neighbonrhood of 

 Aden, but uo example was obtained. Any doubt that may have been felt about the 

 occurrence of this species in Southern Arabia is now satisfactorily set at rest. 



54. Saxicola lugentoides. 



Saxicola lugentoides Seebohm ; Cut. B. Brit. ilus. v. p. 371 (1881). 

 '(. [cJ] ad. Ma'ir, Abian Country. October 13th. 



The occurrence of this rare Chat in S. Arabia is a matter of considerable 

 interest. It was only known to inhabit Sennar, North-East Africa, where it was 

 supposed to be a resident. 



55. Myrinecocichla melanura. 



MyrmecocicJila nwlanura (Temm.); Yerbury, Ibis 1886, p. 17 ; Barnes, Ibis 1893, p. 77 : 

 Yerbury, Ibis 1896, p. 24, pi. 1. fig. i. 



a — e. cJ $ ad. Jebel Manif, north of Lahej . August 13th and 14th. 



/. Ad. AI Khaur, Wadi Hassan, Abian Country. October 10th. 



g — h. Ad. Ma'ir, Abian Country. October 13th. 



[Iris, bill and legs black. 



Common about the foothills of Jebel Manif, in rough wadis and in the 

 crater at Aden.— A. B. P.] 



56. Cercotriclias melanoptera. 



Cercotrichus mclanoptcrus (H. & E.) ; Yerbury, Ibii 1896, p. 23. 



o — m. (J $ ad. et imm. Lahej. September 2nd to 15th. 



u. (J ad. Jebel Manif, north of Lahej. August 14th. 



o—j). ij $ ad. Al Khaur, Wadi Hassan, Abian Country. October 2nd to 10th. 



[Iris brown ; bill black ; legs grey. 



Very common in the low bushes of the desert; they are, however, not very 

 easy to shoot, owing to their habit of slipping out of the opposite side of the bush. 

 They are very pugnacious, and remind one of the Robin. Most of my birds were 

 obtained in the evening, when they were feeding round the bushes. — A. B. P.] 



57. Argya squamiceps. 



Argya sqiuimicejts (Cretzschm.) ; Yerbury, ll'is 1896, p. 23 ; Hawker, Ibis 1898, p. 375. 

 "—9- c? ? ^^- Lahej. August 2Mth to September 15th. 



[c? Iris pale orange or raw-sienna ; bill and legs pale greenish yellow. 



? Iris brown ; bill and legs greenish yellow. 



The Babbling Thrush is extremely common in the Lahej district, and is always 

 found in flocks, which keep low down among the bushes or on the ground. This 

 species is very noisy, especially if there are Jackals or other vermin about, hence 

 they are usually known as Jackal birds.— A. B. P.] 



