Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 287 



in Palestine, both confined to the Dead-Sea region and the 

 southern wilderness. Of these, A. deserti (Licht.) is the least 

 common, being found only in the highlands close to the Dead 

 Sea, in very small bands. It may be considered a distinct 

 variety from the Saharan A. deserti { = A. isabellina, Temm.), 

 from its paler and less rufous coloration and its more robust 

 bill. The black on the rectrices is also further extended. But 

 I cannot see any good specific difference, especially as two 

 specimens in my collection from Nubia present an intermediate 

 link in coloration. I have no doubt of its distinctness from the 

 next form, A. f rater cuius, mihi (P. Z. S. 1864, p. 434), which is 

 smaller, with a very short conical beak and a darker throat. 

 This is by far the most abundant of the Desert-Larks and the 

 widest in its distribution. We had long been familiar with it, 

 and had collected many specimens, before the larger species was 

 met with and was recognized at once by us at Engedi as 

 distinct, from its flight and note. Up to that time, having no 

 specimens for comparison, we had taken the lesser form to be 

 identical with the African bird. The eggs are very distinct 

 from those of any other species of Lark, having a creamy-white 

 ground, evenly powdered with very fine brown and reddish dots, 

 and no large blotches. They are not unlike some varieties of 

 the Pied AVagtail. The eggs of A. fraterculus are more thickly 

 spotted than those of the other species. I regret that I have 

 had no opportunity of comparing the Palestine species with the 

 Indian ones described by Dr. Jerdon, as they might throw 

 much light on the distribution of this interesting group. 



Of the typical Alaudina, Alauda arborea, L., is the only one 

 which we found breeding ; it remains all the year in the country, 

 wintering in the hills about Jerusalem in small flocks, and dis- 

 persing into the neighbourhood of oliveyards and woods in the 

 breeding-season. It is not an uncommon bird. A. arvensis 

 we found only in winter, on the seacoast in large flocks ; and 

 it does not appear to remain in any part of the country in 

 spring. . Probably these flocks are migrants from the far north, 

 as they never penetrate inland. There their place is taken by 

 the closely allied species A. cantarella, Bp., of which there were 

 myriads in vast flocks about Beersheba in winter, where there 



