520 Letters', Extracts, Notices, S>^c. 



3. Passkk ddmestrus buryi (op. cit. ji. 233). 



liie Sparrow found in Arabia is, in my opinion, typical 

 P. indicus. It is a well-known fact that Passer domesticus 

 merges gradually into P. itidicus, and for this reason 

 Dr. Sharpe has united tlieai under the former name (Cat. 

 Birds^ xii. p. 307). It is not the case that examples from 

 Arabia differ from Indian birds, unless we compare Arabian 

 birds in winter plumag\^ with Indian birds in summer 

 plumage, or the reverse. 



4. Fringillaiua tahapisi capistrata (op. eit. p. 235). 



F. capistrata, described from '' Kafferland," is undoubtedly 

 synonymous with F. ta/iapisi, Gray, and was apparently 

 founded on a specimen in worn plumage with the chestnut 

 edges to the wing-feathers worn off. The occurrence of 

 F. tahapisi in Arabia is interesting, if the identification 

 is correct. Tlie only .*pecics^ however, met with in the 

 counti'y by the Percival-Dodson expedition was /''. striolata 

 Licht. 



5. ZosTERops ARABS (op. cit. p. 236). 



All the differences mentioned in the description are to be 

 found in our series of Zosterops ahi/ssinica. The unsexed 

 types of Z. arabs are probably females, which would account 

 for their paler colouring; from the measurements given the 

 Yeshbum birds are not smaller than typical examples of 

 Z. abyssinica. 



G. Nectarinia muelleri (op. cit. p. 237). 



This species is said to be chiefly distinguished from A^ 

 metallica by having the head, back, and throat dark steel- 

 green, instead of bronze-green. 



It is a well-known fact that with wear and exposure 

 metallic green feathers become bronze or purplish. The 

 Arabian birds are, in uiy opinion, absolutely identical with 

 those from N.E. Africa. 



7. Lanius burvi (op. cit. p. 238). 



It is necessary to have devoted special attention to the 

 Grey Shrikes to appreciate the difficulty of the group and 



