38 FAUNA AND FLORA OF FALESTINE. 



I found it till the end of April, in iSSi, and noticed it through the winter 

 as more numerous than on my previous visits. 



Though they meet in Palestine and in North Africa in winter, the 

 summer range of the two Blue-throats is very different. This species 

 passes annually over Heligoland, and breeds in Scandinavia and North- 

 east Europe, wintering in North Africa and as far south as Abyssinia. 

 In Asia it goes to India, Ceylon, and China. 



26. Cyanccula ivolfi. Brehm. Beit, zur Vogelk. ii., p. 173. White- 

 spotted Blue-throat. 



The White-spotted Blue-throat is by no means so common in Palestine 

 as the last species, but is occasionally to be found in winter, generally on 

 the maritime plains, with the habits characteristic of the pipits, with which 

 it consorts. We never noticed it after April. 



The White-spotted Blue-throat is an inhabitant chiefly of central 

 Europe, breeding especially in Holland. It is common on passage in 

 Spain, and occurs in winter along the North African coast, but has rarely 

 strayed further east than Palestine. 



27. Erithaats rnbccula. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 'i,'},']. Robin. 



Our familiar Redbreast is scattered everywhere by ones and twos 

 throughout the country in winter, singing lustily when all else is silent, 

 and as bold and familiar as at home. But not one remains after the end 

 of February. 



The Robin is spread throughout Europe, and is generally a migratory 

 bird. In North Africa it spends only the winter. It breeds in the 

 Caucasus, winters in Asia Minor and Syria, and has been taken in 

 Persia. Westward it extends to the Madeiras and Canaries. 



28. Erithams gutHiralis. Guerin. Rev. Zool., 1843, p. 162. White- 

 throated Robin. 



Plate VII. 



This very remarkable and beautiful bird is one of those which connect 

 the ordinary Palcearctic fauna of Palestine with that of more tropical climes. 

 There, as everywhere else where it occurs, it appears to be very scarce. 

 We first discovered it on Hermon, among the vineyards near its northern 

 base, and afterwards on Lebanon. Last year, in travelling through 



