296 The Rev. Canon Tristram on a new Sijlviad. 



XXXV. — On a new Sylviad from Palestine. 

 By H. B. Tristram, LL.D., F.R.S., &c. 



The recent expedition for the exploration of Moab was too 

 limited in time to afford much opportunity for ornithological 

 investigation ; nor could it be expected that any novelties would 

 occur on a highland plateau only separated by a fissure of 20 

 or 30 miles from the hill-country of Judsea, 



A few birds not noticed in previous expeditions were obtained, 

 as Budytes flavus (L,), Querquedula circia (L.), and a hybrid 

 between Anas boschas and Dafila acuta. 



All the new or peculiar species obtained in the Dead-Sea 

 basin during my last expedition were obtained or noted again, 

 with the exception of Caprmiulgus tamar^icis, mihi. 



When searching among the trees and shrubs at Engedi, where 

 birds are generally plentiful, I noticed consorting with the Black- 

 headed Warbler {Sylvia melanocephala) a pair of another species; 

 and after a long pursuit I succeeded in obtaining both male and 

 female. My attention was at first directed to them by the note, 

 which differs most markedly from that of S. melanocephala. 



The bird, in the hand, may at once be distinguished by the 

 irides, which are bright yellow instead of red, the throat and 

 breast, which are black instead of white, and the abdomen, 

 which is cinereous, as dark as the back, without any white. The 

 primaries are deep black instead of rusty brown; and the secondary 

 wing-coverts are black, with a narrow white margin on the outer 

 webs. 



The female has the throat black, mottled with white, and the 

 irides yellow as in the male. In the rest of its coloration it 

 resembles the female of S. melanocephala. 



I propose for this well-marked species the name 



Sylvia melanothorax, n. sp. 



S. melanocephala partibus superioribus simillima, at paullo in- 

 ferior statura. Supra cinerea, pileo nigerrimo : subtus 

 thorace et pectore nigris : abdomine cinereo : remigibus 

 nigris, secundariis in parte externa albo limbatis, iridibus 

 laetissime fiavis : long. tot. 4-8, alar. 2-4, caud. 2*3, tarsi 

 •57, rostr. a rictu '55 poll. 



