on Birds from Shendi, Sudan. 9 



clearly distinguished between the two forms. P. frontalis 

 differs from P. melanauchen in having no blaek nuchal 

 band, which in the latter is more or less fully connected 

 with the black of the under surface. The white patch 

 on the forehead extends backwards as far as the eyes, 

 being thus twice the size of the white spot on the forehead 

 of P. melanauchen. The upper surface is much more sandy 

 buff, not nearly so grey and brown as in the Abyssinian 

 form. 



These birds were less common at Shendi than the preceding 

 species. In their habits they are very similar, but whereas 

 P. melanocephala is a frequenter of the river-bank, this 

 species is essentially a bird of the desert, very seldom being 

 seen near the water. In colour they harmonize perfectly 

 with their surroundings and are very difficult to see, the 

 coal-black breast and under parts of the male looking exactly 

 like the shadow of a stone or of some slight inequality of 

 the ground. 



14. Emberiza CiEsiA Cretzsch. 



77 c?,57 c?,74 c?.186 c?, 89 ^, ?232 $,281 ?. 



Not very common at Shendi, and, owing to its unob- 

 trusive habits, seldom seen. Like so many other species 

 that we met with, this bird hides itself in the thickest 

 bushes during the day-time, and only becomes active during 

 the last hour before sunset. According to Sharpe (Cat. B. 

 xii. p. 536), this Bunting only winters in N.E. Africa. 

 Although we did not find a nest, its behaviour Avas that 

 of a resident species; it was nearly always to be seen in 

 pairs, and there seemed to be no diminution in the numbers 

 towards the end of our stay. 



15. Passer rufidorsalis. (Plate I. fig. 2.) 



Passer rufi dors alls Brehm ; VVitherby, Ibis, 1891, p. 116. 



18 c?,328 S, 16 J, 63 S, 17 6, 337 c^,.189 S, 147 cT, 

 144 ^, 207 S juv., 69 c? pullus, 321 ^ jiiv., 362 c? juv., 

 140 ?, 418 ?, 191 ?, 190 ?, 261 ?, 367 ?, 422 ?, 

 436 ?. 



This is a southern form of P. domesticus. It might be 

 described as a small and very bright Ilouse-Sparrow, with 



