AFJiS. 139 



346. Podiceps nigricoUis. (L. Brehm. Vcig. Deutschl, p. 963.) 

 Eared Grebe. 



This is the most abundant species on the lal<es of Galilee, remaining 

 in hundreds on the Lake of Gennesaret long after it has assumed the 

 nuptial dress, but retiring in May to Huleh. 



The Eared Grebe inhabits South Europe and North and South 

 Africa, and the greater part of Central and Southern Asia. 



347. Podiceps fliiviatilis. (Tunstall. Orn. Brit., p. 3.) Litde Grebe. 



The Little Grebe, though not so abundant on the Lake of Galilee, is 

 found on almost every little piece of fresh water in the country, and breeds 

 everywhere. 



It has a wide range through Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Australian 

 bird can hardly be separated. 



ORDER, STRUTHIONES. 



FAMILY, STRUTHIONID.^. 



548. Stnithio camclus. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 265. The Ostrich. 

 Heb., nVI^ Arab., <uU;, Naamch. 



The Ostrich only just claims a place in the Fauna of Palestine, by its 

 occurrence in the further parts of the Belka, the eastern plains of Moab. 

 It is no doubt now but a straggler from Central Arabia, though formerly 

 far more abundant. Xenophon speaks of its abundance in his time in 

 Assyria (Anab. i. 5), and we have traditional accounts of its former 

 existence as far as Scinde. 



All the other wild animals named by Xenophon are still found in the 

 region of the Euphrates and Tigris, a fact which makes the rapid retro- 

 cession of the Ostrich the more remarkable. 



I possess a portion of an Ostrich's skin, the back, neck, and wings, 

 captured in the Belka by the late Sheikh Aghyle Agha, and given by him 

 to my friend, T. B. Sandwith, C.M.G., then Consul at Haiffa. 



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