from the Dead Sea and North-western Arabia. 479 



the wadies that run into the Dead Sea from the east. These 

 specimens were obtained at 1000 ft. below the level of the 

 Mediterranean. 



4. Petronia stulta. 



Petronia stulta Tristr. Pal. p. G8 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. 

 p. 289. 



a. <$ . Wadi Zerka Main, E. of Dead Sea. 24 April, 1909. 



This bird is fairly common in the rock-country near the 

 Dead Sea, but does not extend far into Arabia proper. 



5. Passer moabiticus. 



Passer moabiticus Tristr. Pal. p. 68 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. xii. 

 p. 321. 



a-c. S • South end of Dead Sea. 3 May, 1909. 



d-f. ?. „ „ 2&3May, 1909. 



This handsome Sparrow is peculiar to the southern coast 

 of the Dead Sea Depression, and, so far, has only been 

 recorded from three localities, namely, at two spots on the 

 S.W. shore, and again in the reed-beds at the S.E. corner 

 of the Sea. Its range is therefore extremely limited. 



I found it breeding in some numbers in the jungle that 

 surrounds the mouth of Wadi el Hessa, in the Ghor es 

 Sarfeh. This jungle borders the Dead Sea on the extreme 

 south-east, and is composed of tamarisk and tall reeds 

 which grow to a height of 15 ft. The Sparrows were not 

 numerous, and were very shy and wild. Their note is sparrow- 

 like, but easily distinguished from that of any other Sparrow. 

 The nests were built at a height of from six feet to twentv 

 feet above the ground, and were placed in the branches of 

 the tamarisk. In the wet swampy places, where men 

 could not walk, the nests were placed low down, but on 

 the hard ground they were built in the topmost slender 

 twigs of the trees. The nests themselves (see text-fi°\ 5 

 p. 480) were large structures made of thorny twigs, interwoven 

 very firmly, and the entrance-hole at the top was completely 

 covered over; in fact, no entrance-hole could be distinguished 

 even at close quarters. Inside, the nest was very deep and 



