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



the flanks, aud those on the throat are of the faintest ; yet I can 

 see no specific characters to afford a diagnosis. Other specimens 

 obtained in the same district are precisely like our own. 



Of Anthus cervinus, Pall., we only obtained a single specimen, 

 on the coast of the Plain of Sharon in winter in February. 



Anthus arboreus, Bechst., is a scarce bird in Palestine, but 

 occurring in winter as well as in spring, though at the former 

 period only obtained by us in the Jordan valley. It breeds in 

 the north. 



Of the Wagtails we saw but little. During winter we never 

 met with any Yellow Wagtail, and in spring we only once fell 

 in with them. When at Jericho, April 14, I observed a large 

 flock of Budytes cinereocapilla (Savi), evidently on their migration ; 

 they remained but one evening ; and I secured several specimens, 

 all of this form. On the next morning the flock took its 

 departure for the north ; nor was this bird ever seen by any of 

 our party, excepting myself. If it had remained to breed, I 

 think it could scarcely have escaped our observation ; and 1 infer 

 that it only occurs in Palestine on passage. I may add that I 

 saw in Jerusalem a skin obtained there of B. nigricapilla , Bp. 

 From a large sei'ies of specimens I am inclined to make the 

 induction that there is but one Budytes flava, and that the 

 variations in the intensity of the colour of the head are not 

 sufficiently determinate to afford specific value. From the 

 British Isles we have a regular series of gradations till we reach 

 Greece, from the green-headed B. rayi of this country to the 

 black-headed B. nigricapilla. Yet in Spain and Algeria the 

 intermediate forms occur, while they decidedly predominate in 

 Italy and Tunis. In Greece, where B. nigricapilla is most fre- 

 quent, B. cinereocapilla is not uncommon ; and thence as we 

 proceed eastwards the intensity of coloration diminishes, till in 

 China and Amoorland we find B. flava, and in Japan B. rayi may 

 be expected. Mr. Swinhoe's notes (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, 

 p. 274 et seq.), are well worth consideration on this subject. 



Motacilla sulphurea, Bechst., is common in winter, but leaves 

 in February, long before assuming the nuptial dress. M. alba, 

 L., is very abundant everywhere in winter, but becomes scarce 

 as the spring advances, and is not seen at all in the south in 



