AJ-£S. Ss 



1 66. CapriDmlgtis rnficoUis. Temm. Man. d'Orn. i., p. 43S. Red- 

 necked Nightjar. 



This Nightjar is only found ordinarily in South-western Europe and 

 North-western Africa. It has straggled as far as England, and I have 

 seen a specimen in Jerusalem, which I have every reason to believe was 

 shot close to the city. 



167. Caprvmilgiis tamaricis. Tristram. Proc. Zool. Soc, 1S64, 

 p. 170. 



Plate XII. 

 We obtained this bird, till then unknown, both at the northern and 

 southern ends of the Dead Sea in the month of January, at Ain Feshkah 

 and at Jebel Usdum. It must therefore be a permanent resident in this 

 most desolate region. In form and size it somewhat resembles C. asiaiicus^ 

 but is larger. C. rufigena. Smith, from South Africa, corresponds in size, 

 but from both of them it differs decidedly in colouration and markings. I 

 have seen a specimen in the collection of the late Rev. Dr. Herschel, 

 which was obtained near Jericho. These are the only specimens known. 

 It certainly differs from Capriinnlgus inornatus from Abyssinia, with 

 which it has erroneously been identified, and, so far, remains peculiar to 

 the Dead Sea basin. 



FAMILY, PICIDiE. 



168. Piciis syriacus. Hemp, and Ehr. Symb. Phys. Aves, fol. v., 

 note 5. Syrian Woodpecker. Arab., _^iJI ^Uij, Nakar esh shajar, 'the 

 Tree- Drummer,' and ^^i^)\ ^lij, Nakar el Hasliab. 



This is the only species of Woodpecker found in Palestine, and of 

 course only in the few wooded districts. To the Jordan valley it never 

 descends. The general paucity of timber is quite sufficient to account 

 for the scarcity of this beautiful group of birds, though it is very possible 

 that further research may bring to light other species in Lebanon. It 

 closely resembles our Greater Spotted Woodpecker in size and coloration, 

 but may be at once recognised by the continuous white band from the 

 bill through the eye and ear coverts to the nape of the neck. 



The species seems to be stricdy limited to Asia Minor, Syria, and 

 Persia. 



