88 The Oologists' Record, December i, 192 1. 



commonly in the late spring and early summer in the cover at the 

 northern and southern extremities of the Dead Sea, which localities 

 I was unable to visit during their breeding season. 



[We have a set of five eggs taken in the Jordan Valley on the 

 23rd April. — Editor.] 



Spanish Sparroio — Passer hispaniolensis transcaspiciis. 



Common locally in the Coastal Plain, where it breeds in large 

 colonies in tall eucalyptus trees and fir trees. It is also found in 

 the Jordan Valley, and I noted a flock in the gardens of Jericho on 

 the 15th August, 1920. I believe it is a resident, but although I 

 was always out looking for birds, I saw none of this species near 

 Ludd from the beginning of November, 1919, until after the middle 

 of February, 1920. There was evidently then a migratory move- 

 ment of sorts, for these birds appeared in large numbers on the 

 20th February and went on increasing until the end of the month. 

 They then began to decrease, and by the 6th March the majority 

 seemed to have passed on, although I noted a few about in the 

 middle of that month. However, as they are so local and their 

 breeding sites are the tops of lofty eucalyptus trees, unless one 

 happens to live near a colony it is quite possible to overlook these 

 birds, as one requires the aid of a pair of glasses to distinguish 

 the adult birds when at no great distance. In one large eucalyptus 

 tree I have counted over 60 nests, not one of which was within 

 30 feet of the ground. The nests are in no way different to those 

 of P. domesticus, and two broods are apparently brought up in 

 the season, for I saw broods strong on the wing at the end of May 

 and in early June, 1920, while I took many sets of fresh eggs from 

 a colony near Jaffa at the beginning of July, 1918. 



Five eggs seems to be a normal set, though sixes are not un- 

 common, and one rarely finds a Sparrow, however late in the 

 season, incubating less than five eggs. Actual sets do not vary as 

 much as those of P. domesticus, but the eggs of different sets vary 

 a great deal in size, shape, colouring and markings. The average of 

 40 eggs measured in inches is -844 X -618, while other measure- 

 ments are : — 



Maxima. Minima. 



(L.) -93 X -61 (L.) -79 X -60 



(B.) -90 X -66 (B.) -83 X -58 



