480 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on Birds from Fao. 



one day I was rubbing up some brass hinges, and left them 

 to steep in salad-oil into which a fly tell ; the bird immediately 

 seized and swallowed it, and in a few hours after got a fit, 

 which recurred several times during the next two days, and 

 on the third day it died. 



1 have known the old birds forsake a nest after it has been 

 once examined, and even to stop building when it has been 

 observed, and leave the locality altogether.] 



13. MusciCAPA GRisoLA, L. ; Sharpc, op. cit. iv. p. 151 ; 

 Blanf. t.c. p. 143. 



[No. 85, shot 10th May, 1884. 



No. 90, shot 14th May, 1884. Apparently the only birds 

 seen by me.] 



14. MusciCAPA PARVA, Bcchst. ; Sharpe, op. cit. iv. p. 161. 

 Erythrosterna parva, Blanf. t. c. p. 144. 



No, 116, a young bird. 



[Shot 10th October, 1884. Only bird observed.] 



15. Pratincola RUBETEA (L.) ; Sharpe, /. c. p. 179 ; Blanf. 

 t. c. p. 146. 



[No. 81. Migratory ; arriving in winter and staying till 

 spring. 



The one in your possession was shot in May 1884 ; one 

 other I shot in November 1883.] 



16. Pratincola hemprichii (Ehr.) ; Sharpe, /. c. p. 193; 

 Blanf. t. c. p. 145. 



No. 50. Two males and a female. 



Although not showing quite so much white on the tail as 

 Abyssinian specimens, all the examples sent by Mr. Gumming 

 have the base of the tail conspicuously white. 



[Winter visitant, shot in November and March.] 



17. Sylvia nisoria (Bechst.) ; Seebohm, Cat. B. Brit. 

 Mus. V. p. 6 (1881) ; Blauf. t. c. p. 174. 



[No. 86. Shot in May; most probably found in spring aud 

 autumn.] 



