24 Kev. H. B. Tristram's Xutes 



Several individuals m the same neighbourhood. From the 

 immense numbers of reptilia in the countn.-, this Eagle is pro- 

 bably generally distributed. 



8. MiLVrS ATER. 



Universally present about the towns and villages, hanging 

 over the poultry, but apparently leaving them unmolested for 

 the sake of the offal and garbage. 



9. MiLVrS PARASITICUS. 



Not so common, and apparently preferring the wooded dis- 

 tricts. I have noticed the same distinction in the habits of 

 these two species in North Africa. 



10. FaLCO LANARirS ? 



On one occasion, while riding with an Arab guide, I observed 

 a falcon of large size rise close to us. The guide, when I 

 pointed it out to him, exclaimed, '" Ta'ir Sakqr." Ta'ir, the 

 Arabic for " bird/' is universally throughout North Africa and 

 the East applied to those falcons which are capable of being 

 trained for hunting, i. e. " the bird '"' par excellence. Ta'ir 

 el Hohr, '•' the noble bird," is the common appellation of the 

 Peregrine and its congeners. "Sakqr'' I have only heard 

 applied to the very large falcons — never to the F. peregrinus or 

 F.punicus. both of which are trained by the Arabs for the chase. 

 No doubt our sj^ecitic name " Falco sacer " is derived, not from 

 a Latin source, but from the Arabic trivial name of the species. 

 There seems as yet much confusion in the nomenclature of the 

 different larger species or races, which to the south and east 

 of the Mediterranean take the place of the F. granlandiciis, 

 islandicus, and nonegicus of the North. The bird which I saw 

 was nearly as large as a Jer Falcon, and had a very bright 

 rufous head, the light colour extending to the back of the neck. 

 How far F. sacer, lanarius, cervicalis, biarmicus, and cherrug, 

 are distinct species, and what is the geographical range of each, 

 seems a question well-worthy the investigation of naturalists 

 travelling in the East. 



11. Falco peregrinus. 



I saw either this species, or one closely resembliug it, on the 

 locks near Cccsarea. 



