176 Mr. W. L. Sclater on [Ibis, 



O.-Grant, 1900, p. 260; Lorenz & Hellmayr, 1901, p. 243, 

 1907, p. 116. 



a,h.<S'^' Hajeilah, 2080 ft. 25-26. iii. 13. 



" At sunrise on Bajil plain you may liear the Hornbills 

 calling vociferously to each other, and approach the queer 

 misshapen bird while absorbed in his weird spasmodic 

 chant.'' 



As has been noticed by Claude Grant (Ibis, 1915, p. 270) 

 there is considerable variation in the dimensions of the 

 North African Grey Hornbill, which ranges from Gambia to 

 southern Arabia. There can be no doubt, however, that the 

 Arabian birds are the largest. I find that the wing averages 

 250 mm., while those from western Africa average 221 ; the 

 Soudan birds are intermediate, averaging 231. It seems 

 worth while therefore to keep the Arabian birds distinct, 



Forskal described this Hornbill under the name of the 

 " Crotophaga from Arabia,^' and Hemprich and Ehrenberg 

 met with it siabsequently and named it. 



Halcyon leiicocephala semicserulea. 



Alcedo semicarulea Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. 17S8, p. 457 : 

 Yemen. 



Barnes, 93, p. 72 ; Yerbury, 96, p. 20; O.-Grant, 1900, 

 p. 260; Lorenz & Hellmayr, 1901, p. 243, 1907, p. 116. 



a,b. (? ? . Hajeilah, 2080 ft. 12-15. iv. 13. 

 c. (J imm. Sanaa, 7600 ft. 3.ix. 13. 



" These birds only appear at Hajeilah after the rains 

 set in.'' 



" In every seclusion, amid tall trees in deep ravines, you 

 may meet that quaint anomaly, the land Kingfisher. The 

 bird's retiring habits belie its startling appearance. Its 

 back and wings are bright metallic blue, barred with black, 

 while a glowing rufous breast, an ashen head, and a big 

 vermilion bill combine to give the bird away to the most 

 casual observer. It feeds on insects and is seldom found 

 near water." 



Claude Grant (Ibis, 1915, p. 265) distinguishes the Arabian 

 race from others found in Africa. The type was obtained 



