On Birds from Tripoli. 643 



[The nesting of /. pectwaUs at Lake Naivasha is a very 

 interesting circumstance. xVfter comparing Mr Jackson's 

 series of specimens with our own set from South Africa, I find 

 that the same variations in markings run throughout them 

 all. The number oF dark bands on the tail varies, apparently, 

 from seven to ten, and, in some instances, the dark bars 

 become obsolete. — R. B. S.] 



[To be continued.] 



XL. — On a small Collection of Birds from Tripoli. 

 By J. I. S. Whitaker, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 



For some years past I had entertained the idea of visiting 

 Tripoli and Cyrenaica, or, failing the opportunity of going 

 myself, of sending a collector in my stead, with a view of 

 obtaining some information regarding the Ornis of those 

 hitherto — by the ornithologist at least — practically unex- 

 plored countries. Beyond a few notes by sportsmen, or 

 other travellers who have visited the town of Tripoli and its 

 immediate neighbourhood, nothing has, I believe, thus far 

 been published concerning the fauna of this part of North 

 Africa, which, although so near to Europe, seems yet so far 

 oft" as regards our knowledge of it; the Tripolitan hinter- 

 land being indeed less known, and far more of a terra 

 incognita to us, than many parts of Central Africa. 



Owing, however, to the Ottoman Government having of 

 late years prohibited Europeans from penetrating into the 

 interior of the Vilayet, unless provided with special per- 

 mission, and to the fact of this permission being extremely 

 difficult to obtain, particularly by an Englishman, in conse- 

 quence of the somewhat strained relations existing between 

 our country and the Poi'te, I had until last year been obliged 

 to forego my good intentions, and await the issue of events. 

 Finally, in the spring of 1901, thanks to the kind inter- 

 vention of the British Museum, I succeeded in obtaining, 

 through our Foreign Office, the long wished for permission, 



SER. VIII. VOL. II. 2u 



