410 Canon H. B. Tristram^'s Ornithologicul 



Sitta syriaca, has never been found in Syria ; but under the 

 red-tapcism of the commentators on the Brit. Assoc. Rules it 

 retains the name {'' hicus a non lucendo "), while the smaller 

 form, S. nemneyeri is found throughout all the mountainous 

 parts of Galilee and Syria. But when, after crossing the 

 Syrian plains, we begin to ascend the southern spurs of the 

 Tamid range, here and throughout Armenia we find the 

 large species, S. syriaca, the specimens equalling the very 

 largest from Turkestan. So far, however, from supplanting 

 its lesser relative, S. nemneyeri appears to be, throughout 

 Southern Armenia, more numerous than in Syria, and that 

 side by side with the larger species. I have shot a pair of each 

 on the same rock at the same time. I admit them to be dis- 

 tinct races, but grudge specific distinction to mere size, espe- 

 cially when, as here, I could detect no differences in the voice. 



Another bird which seems to have its boundaries defined by 

 a very sharp line is the Magpie {Pica rustica) . Though abun- 

 dant in Cyprus, it is never seen in Syria, either north or 

 south of the Lebanon ; but about a day^s ride north of Aleppo, 

 on the borders of Armenia, just as we begin to ascend the 

 lower Tamid range, it appears haunting the white poplars 

 which fringe the streams, and is spread in small numbers 

 throughout Armenia. Why it should avoid the Syrian plains 

 and decline to leave the southern slopes of the Tamid is diffi- 

 cult to understand. Russell gives it in his list of the birds 

 of Aleppo ; but as its range is still so close to that city that 

 Dr. Russell may have often seen it, I do not see any ground 

 for supposing that it has retreated north within the last 

 century and a half. 



But the most interesting ornithological sight I was privi- 

 leged to enjoy in Syria was the Rose-coloured Pastor on mi- 

 gration. On May 26th I was on the ruins of Kelat Seijar, 

 the ancient Larissa, a romantic and isolated fortress on the 

 banks of the Orontes. The river flows due west towards it 

 down a deep glen, with cliffs of great height on the south, 

 but lower on the north. The country on both sides is a vast 

 plain, but generally higher on the left than on the right bank 

 of the Orontes. Just at this spot a bold spur of rock runs 



