Hcv. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 367 



Sharon in tens of thousands, with a few of the Sardinian Starhng 

 [Sturnus unicolor) intermingled. This latter does not^ as in 

 Algeria, remain behind to breed. The Starlings all depart at 

 the end of February. 



The Rose-coloured Pastor is not even a winter visitant, but 

 occasionally appears in vast flocks. It is well known to the 

 natives as the Locu&t-bird, from its habit of preying on that 

 destructive creature, whose flights it generally follows. We 

 found it in 1858, but not in 186J<. It has been known to 

 breed in large colonies in Palestine, but not for many years 

 past. So at Smyrna numbers of nests were taken in 1858, 

 while since that year it has rarely been seen there. The beha- 

 viour of the Pastor in Syria reminds us of that of the Wax- 

 wing further north, an erratic rather than a migratory bird. 



The Buntings are fully represented in Palestine. Emberiza 

 miliaria is as common as the Skylark in England on all the 

 corn-plains throughout the yesr. The lovely little E. striolata 

 confines itself throughout the year to the nooks by the Dead Sea, 

 and to the southward, where its hitherto unknown egg remains 

 to be discovered by some future adventurous collector. The 

 Yellow-Ammer, though found at Constantinople, does not ex- 

 tend so far south, nor Emberiza cirlus so far east. We looked 

 out in vain for Emberiza cinerea, Strickl. E. aureola I once 

 saw, and do not think I could be mistaken, as I watched the 

 bird for some time, but had no gun with me. An Italian gen- 

 tleman also showed me a specimen he had shot north of the 

 Lebanon. The Ortolan, E. hortulana, is very abundant in the 

 upper country in spring, returning to breed about the first or 

 second week in April. But a fortnight earlier comes the Embe- 

 riza ccssia, Cretschm., which takes the place of the Yellow- Immer 

 in Palestine. Its return is sudden and universal, and it peoples 

 every part of the country from the banks of the Jordan to the high 

 parts of Lebanon. It builds either on the ground under a tuft, or 

 in a low bush. Its note is low but cheery ; often repeated, like 

 the Ortolan's, from the top of a bush or low tree. The nest is very 

 neat and compact, lined with fibres and horsehair ; and the eggs, 

 four in number, are sufficiently characteristic to render them 

 distinguishable from those of any other Bunting. They are 



