Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithologij of Palestine. 85 



melanocephala, we were not fortunate enough to discover one in 

 Palestine. There was one curious contrast between its habits 

 in Algiers and Palestine. In the former it resorts to the 

 gardens and hedgerows close to the city, like our Hedge- Spar- 

 row, and is not found in the open country or in the Sahara. 

 In Palestine we repeatedly took it in the winter in the wadys 

 abutting on the Dead Sea, and even at Jebel Usdum, the salt- 

 mountain, wherever there was a little fresh vegetation. A large 

 series of these specimens exactly corresponds with those of Al- 

 geria. But at the same time we found in the more luxuriantly 

 wooded districts, as at Jericho, another very closely affined 

 species, distinct in its coloration at first sight and rather 

 smaller, which I do not find noticed by any writer. I venture, 

 therefore, to describe it, and dedicate it to my friend and com- 

 panion Mr. H.T. Bowman, who shot the first specimen. 



Sylvia bowmani, Tristram, sp. n. 

 -Si. melanocephalcB simillima, at paullo inferior statura et gra- 

 cilior. Pileo nigro distinctiore, et abrupte definito, ne- 

 que ultra occiput descendente. Suprk tota pallide cinerca, 

 nee grisea nee nigro-olivacea ut in S. melanocephala. Subtus 

 pure alba, abdomine infimo pallidissime vineo tincto. 

 Long, tota 5, alar. 2*15, caudse 2*2, tarsi 0'75, rostr. a 



rictu 0'5 poll. 

 Hab, in valle Jordani. 



Had we not found these two species in the same district I 

 should have hesitated to discriminate them ; but the difference 

 in coloration can scarcely be an individual variation, Vt^hile the 

 habitats, of the one m the open scrub, of the other int he tropical 

 wood, are very distinct. 



Sylvia orphea is another summer visitant, returning in the 

 beginning of April, and afifectiug chiefly the groves and olive- 

 yards of the northern part of the country. Near Banias, under 

 Mount Hermon, it is especially abundant ; and its note, with 

 greater compass, but not more sweetness, than the Blackcap, 

 resounds in the early morning, and is continued at intervals 

 through the day. The nests were loose open structures, rather 

 shallow, and placed in low bushes near the ground. The eggs 

 were generally laid the first week in June, though we found 

 some earlier. Ehrenberg makes the Palestine species distinct 



