TIM-; I'INCIIKS AND \V1''.A V l'',K ISIKDS OF 'IIIIO Hl'UAN ill 



65 to 75 grammes, and averaged a little over G9. Tlioy had heen feeding entirely on dura, 

 and were, like all birds just about to migrate at this season, exceedingly fat. The colour of 

 the bird is pale brown above, with blackish-brown centres to the feathers on the crown and 

 most of the back, the rump and upper tail coverts being without this dark mottling. The 

 wings are dark brown, with pale buff edgings. The feathers of the square and rather short 

 tail are dark brown edged with buff, and all except the centre pair are broadly tipped with 

 white. There is a black line through the eye, and a whitish eyebrow above it. The ear 

 coverts arc brown, the cheeks and throat white. On the crop are two heavy black 

 markings, forming an interrupted band across it. The rest of the lower parts are whitish 

 washed with brown. The bill is dark horny-brown with the base of the lower mandible 

 yellow. 



This is a PaUearctic bird, breeding in northern Asia and Asia Minor, and migrating in 

 the winter to N.E. Africa as far south as Abyssinia and the Blue Nile. Probably its 

 immigrations vary a great deal in magnitude. During this winter and the two preceding Variation in 

 ones it has been very abundant near Khartoum, but for some years previously I never ' '^"'"^ ■'^"'^ 

 noticed it, and, if present, it must, I think, have been in smaller numbers. 



Mr. Hawker obtained specimens at Wad Shalai on the White Nile in 1901, but only 

 saw one flock, and Messrs. Witherby and Eothschild, who made collections in the Sudan in 

 the same year, did not meet with it. 



Eiippell recorded it from the Dongola Province. 



It seems a most destructive visitor when in large numbers. 



The flight of the bird is usually buoyant and undulating ; when flying into a strong 

 wind it goes more steadily, and rather like a starling. It constantly utters a loud cheery 

 trill when on the wing. 



