X PREFACE. 



very marked species, strictly confined to the lower end of the Dead Sea 

 basin, though it belongs to a genus equally Ethiopian and Indian, yet 

 must undoubtedly be classed among the Indian section of this group. 

 By far the smallest species known of its genus ; in its coloration and 

 other peculiarities, it approaches in some respects to the Indian P. cinna- 

 vwnctis, in others to P. ritssatus of China ; but it is not affined to any 

 known Ethiopian Passer. Amniopcrdix hcyi, a partridge limited in its 

 range to the region round the Dead Sea and Arabia Petraea, belongs to a 

 sub-genus of Caccabis, of which the only other member, Amiiioperdix 

 bonhavii, is Indian. Four other species of the Dead Sea basin, Drymceca 

 inqiiicta, Sylvia boicnuani, S. mclanothorax, and Ccrcomcla melaiuira, 

 belong to genera common to both regions, though all are more nearly 

 affined to the African than the Indian members of their respective 

 groups. 



Of the others, Ixus xanthopygius, belonging to a genus widely extended 

 through both regions, is yet by its sombre plumage and yellow vent close 

 to five or six Ethiopian species, and more decidedly separated from any of 

 its Indian congeners. Ciimyris osece, the only one of the sunbirds which 

 reaches so far north, represents a family very numerous in both regions, 

 and is confined to the Jordan valley, though occasionally in summer 

 straggling a little beyond its limits. Though not far removed from 

 Nedai'inia asiatica, it approaches much more closely C. affinis of 

 Abyssinia. Ai-gya squaviiceps, yet more circumscribed in its range to 

 the lower part of the Jordan valley, beyond which it never ascends, is one 

 of a peculiarly well-defined genus, comprising about 15 species, African 

 and Indian ; while Ainydnis tristratni, the last to be named, limited in 

 its range to the rocks that overhang the Dead Sea, is one of a restricted 

 genus of starlings, of which the other species are Abyssinian and South 

 African. None of the Indian Stii-rnidcs have any near affinities with this 

 genus. 



Thus the Avifauna of the Dead Sea is decidedly distinct and typical 

 in its species, revealing sometimes Indian, more generally African 

 affinities. 



An examination of the Reptilian Fauna leads to the same conclusion, 

 though we find here a less prominent intrusion of Ethiopian types. 

 Dr. Gunther has given it as his decided opinion, that herpetologically 



