400 Mr. A, L. Butler on Birds observed 



Khor Arbat and at Jebel Bawati. A pair were building on 

 a rock-face in the Khor when I arrived there on May 1st, 

 but the necessity of shade compelled me to pitch my tent 

 immediately under their nest, which caused them to 

 forsake it, 



42. Cypselus apus (Linn.) ? 



I saw a single Swift, which looked like C. apus, in the 

 Khor Arbat on May ]4th. 



43. Cypselus afpinis Hardw. 

 a. S ' Khor Arbat, 4. 5. 08. 



These little White-rum ped Swifts were common among 

 the hills. They generally flew high, descending occasionally 

 to skim over the pools in the khor, 



44. Caprimulgus nubicus Licht. 

 a. S ■ Khor Arbat, 15. 5. 08. 



This was the only Nightjar met with near the Red Sea 

 coast. It was observed or heard every evening along the 

 tamarisk-thickets near water in the Khor Arbat, but in 

 these valleys between high hills it was very difficult to see 

 to shoot it after dusk. The note is a liquid sound, like 

 " chukku ! chukku ! chukku ! " 



45. Merops apiaster Linn. 



Large numbers of Common Bee-eaters appeared at the 

 Khor Arbat on May 6th and 7th, and joined the Blue- 

 cheeked birds among the tamarisks. When both are heard 

 together there is a considerable difference between their 

 notes, the call of M. persicus being shriller than that of the 

 common species. 



46. Merops persicus Pall. 

 a. ?. Khor Arbat, 2.5.08. 

 i. ?. „ 1.5.08. 



c. S- „ 16.5.08. 



d. S- „ 14.5.08. 



Large numbers of the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater frequented 

 the tamarisks in the Khor Arbat all the time that I stayed 

 there (May 1st to 16th). 



