from the Dead Sea and North-western Arabia. 481 



number. But during that week I also noticed some birds 

 building their nests, the males and the females alike taking 

 part in the work. 



Out of the numerous clutches of eggs that I took, it was 

 noticeable that three of the same clutch were always alike, 

 whilst the fourth was always different. They measured from 

 1-9 to 21 by 1*3 inches. 



6. Erythrospiza githaginea. 



Erythrospiza githaginea Tristr. Pal. p. 70 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. 

 xii. p. 284. 



a. <$ ; b, c. ? ; d. Sex doubtful. Tebuk, N.W. Arabia, 

 1 Jan., 1909. 



Large flocks of these Desert Bullfinches used to come to 

 drink at the water-holes near the Oasis of Tebuk. 



7. Emberiza hortulana. 



Emberiza hortulana Tristr. Pal. p. 71 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. 

 xii. p. 530. 



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

 1909. 



8. Al^EMON DESERTORUM. 



Certhilauda alaudipes Tristr. Pal. p. 77. 



Alcemon desertorum Sharpe, Cat. B. xiii. p. 519. 



a. ?;*.<?. Tebuk, N.W. Arabia. 2 Jan., 1909. 



This is a somewhat rare bird. I only saw it on two 

 occasions during a journey of many hundreds of miles. 

 The two localities were at the Oasis of Tebuk and on the 

 confines of the Nafud Sand-desert. 



9. Otocorys bilopha. 



Otocorys penicillata Tristr. Pal. p. 81. 



Otocorys bilopha Sharpe, Cat. B. xiii. p. 537. 



A few examples of the Algerian Shore-Lark were seen, 

 and one was obtained near a well between the Oasis of Teima 

 and Jauf in North-western Arabia. 



10. Melanocorypha calandra. 



Melanocorypha calandra Tristr. Pal. p. 81 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. 

 xiii. p. 551. 



SER. ix. — VOL. iv. 2 1 



