280 Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 



many years, when its haunts have disappeared, it also will vanish. 

 It is a very silent bird, and not often heard except in the 

 breeding-season, when it has a cry which reminds me of that of 

 the Nuthatch {Sitta ccesia). Its other note is harsh, and, though 

 not so loud, is not unlike that of a Jay [Garrulus glandarius). 



" Besides the peculiarities of plumage which the genera 0{vy- 

 notus and Ceblepyris possess in common, the habits of the two 

 are, as far as my observation goes, very similar ; and, taking 

 C. cana as an example, I fail to see any real generic distinctions 

 between them. Specimens of the Occynotus of Reunion having 

 been kindly forwarded to me by M. Pollen, I am enabled to 

 express my undoubted opinion that they are specifically distinct 

 from the Mauritian bird." 



I may conclude by observing that at first sight the female of 

 Oxynotus newtoni might be taken for the young of O. typicus. 



St. Denis, Reunion. 

 17th February, 1865. 



[We may here add a description of the nestling of the Oxy- 

 notus of Mauritius from a specimen sent by Mr. Edward Newton, 

 and of which a figure is also given in Plate VII. General colour 

 above somewhat like that of the adult female, but each feather 

 tipped with light fawn-colour, so as to give a mottled or barred 

 appearance, resembling that of the nestling Turdus viscivorus. 

 The remiges and rectrices of a paler hue than in the adult fe- 

 male, with more conspicuous edgings and tips of a lighter 

 colour. The throat nearly white in the middle, passing into 

 light fawn-colour, each feather having a mesial longitudinal 

 streak of brown. At this stage the feathers of the rump do not 

 beem to have the characteristic stiff bases. -^Ed.] 



XXIY.— On the Ornithology of Palestine. Part IV. 

 By the Rev. H. B. Tristram, M.A., F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. 



[Continued from p. 88.] 



The Scansorial group is very scantily represented in Palestine. 

 In many parts of the country, as in the Ghor, as well as in the 

 uplands of the south, scansorial birds are wholly absent ; in the 

 other parts the species are very few. The scarcity of wood alone 



