1 92 1.] the Near East and Tropical East Africa. 6H9 



103 birds examined from Nablus (northern Judsean high- 

 lands), lower Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Sinai, Suez (Janal, 

 southern Palestine, Borollos beach in the northern Egyptian 

 Delta, Nadi Natrun (western Desert of Egypt), coast west 

 from Alexandria to Soil am, and from Ailet in southern 

 Italian Eritrea. 



In fresh antunni plumage the upper parts are more sandy 

 coloured than in either cinnamoinina or zion, and altogether 

 much paler than in maculata. The under parts have the 

 breast-spotting small and much concealed by the feather 

 edgings. Birds in worn plumage are very variable, and this 

 variation seems to depend on the amount of glare or cheinic;il 

 influence to which the individual has been subjected. Thus, 

 birds from the Wadi Natrun in late winter or spring turn a 

 sort of dirty fawn colour, those from the lower Jordan 

 Valley becoming merely pale sandy colour. Birds from the 

 coastal plain of Palestine bleach very little. Under parts 

 generally whiter than in zion. 



Three birds from Nablus are nearer brachyura than zion, 

 and are the only birds about which I have a doubt regarding 

 their correct determination. 



I find that birds from Jericho are identical with others in 

 similar plumage from the Wadi Natrun and Solium. 

 Breeding birds from Suez are identical with Jordan Valley 

 birds in sindlar plumage. 



Two males from Ailet in Italian Eritrea I am unable to 

 separate from hracliyura. 



The size of hracliyura is variable to a slight degree 

 according to locality. 



8 males from northern Sinai average 106*8 in wine'. 



7 males from southern Palestine average 104*5 in wing. 



9 males from the Suez Canal average 104'2 in v^-iug. 

 17 males from Wadi Natrun average 10-4 in wing. 



21 males from west of Alexandria average 103 in wing. 



2 males from Eritrea have wings of 103 and 104. 

 The average for all localities is 102*1 for 70 males and 

 97*6 for 33 females. Maximum wing for males 109, and 



2u2 



