6S FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



The Marsh Sparrow seems to be confined chiefly to countries border- 

 ing on the Mediterranean, but extends eastwards in small numbers to the 

 western frontier of India. 



1 20. Passer moabiticiis. Tristram. P. Z. S., 1S64, p. 169. 



Plate IX. Figs. 3, 4. 



So far as our present knowledge extends, this bird is the most limited 

 in the world in its range, and the scarcest in number of individuals. And 

 yet it is marked off from its allies more distinctly than any other member 

 of the genus Passer. In three successive expeditions I have searched for 

 it, but never obtained it except among the reeds in two spots on the west 

 side of the Dead Sea, close to the shore, and again in the reed-beds of 

 the Ghor es Safieh, at the south-east end of the Dead Sea ; nor has it, so 

 far as I know, been ever obtained by anyone except the members of our 

 party in 1S64. It is the most diminutive member of the Sparrow tribe, 

 very shy and wary, and extremely restless, feeding on the seeds of the 

 great feathery Donax. Its bright chestnut back and the bright yellow 

 spot on each shoulder at once mark it as distinct. The female, in other 

 respects clad in the same quiet hues as our hen Sjaarrow, has also the 

 bright yellow spot on either side of the neck. The Yellow-necked 

 Sparrow of India, P. flavicollis, has a yellow spot on the throat, none on 

 the sides of the neck. 



For the convenience of reference I append the original description 

 and measurements of this rare bird : 



Ex cinereo isabellinus, tectricibus alarum Isete-castaneis : superciliis et 

 dorso medio, cum remigum et rectricum maginibus rufescenti-isabellinis : 

 dorso medio nigro-striato : gutture medio cum cervice nigris : macula 

 suboculari et gutturis vitta utrinque laterali albis : macula cervicali utrin- 

 que flava : ventre albo, crisso rufescenti ; rostro superiore plumbeo, 

 inferiore cum pedibus flavis. 



Total length 3'8 inches, wing 2-3, tail rS. 



I2T. Petroiiia stiilta. (Gmel. Syst. Nat. i., p. 919.) Rock Sparrow. 



The Rock Sparrow is not unfrequent in the open rocky country along 



the central ridge of Palestine up to the highest part of Lebanon. I had 



