AGROBATES GALACTODES 75 



gives some inteiestin^ notes regarding the geographical ranges of the 

 two species, and aUudes particularly to the sharp line of demarcation 

 existing between them in Syria and Palestine, A. galactodes being 

 exceedingly abundant south of the Lebanon, throughout the whole of 

 Palestine, and entirely absent in the country north of those mountains ; 

 while A. familiaris abounds in the latter districts, and is wanting in 

 Palestine. This no doubt refers to the breeding habitat of the species, 

 as on migration A. familiaris presumably passes through Palestine. 



In Tunisia, as well as in Algeria and Marocco, A. galactodes occurs 

 abundantly as a summer migrant, arriving, as a rule, rather late in the 

 spring, and leaving again in the early autumn. According to Canon 

 Tristram, this species winters in the Algerian Sahara, but I have no 

 note of its occurrence anywhere in the Eegency during the colder 

 months, and its winter quarters are evidently further south than 

 Tunisia. During this season it has been met with in Abyssinia. 

 From Tripoli I have examples of the species, but all obtained in 

 spring and summer, and I cannot say whether it winters there also. 



In the southern oases of Tunisia the Rufous Warbler generally 

 makes its first appearance at the end of March or beginning of April, 

 but it does not hurry northwards as quickly as most of the summer 

 migrants do, and in the central and northern districts of the Regency 

 the bird is not to be seen in any numbers until after the middle of 

 April. By the end of that month, however, the species is abundant 

 throughout the country generally, and I have sometimes counted as 

 many as six or eight of these birds on the ground together, within a 

 foot or two of each other. It is a pretty sight to see them on such 

 occasions, as they dart to and fro, sporting with one another, and 

 displaying conspicuously their handsomely marked fanhke tails. 



The Rufous Warbler evinces a marked partiality for dry, sandy 

 localities, and dusty roads bordered with cactus and aloes. The 

 prickly-pear plantations, abundant in many parts of the Regency, are 

 much frequented by these birds, but where these plants do not occur, 

 one may meet with the species among thickets of tamarisk 

 [T. africana), or other bushes, or even on a " maquis "-covered hillside, 

 provided there are shrubs of a certain height. Wet or marshy ground 

 seems to be shunned by this Warbler, and when found among 

 tamarisks, it is generally seen among those standing high and dry, 

 and not among those actually bordering streams. Although a bush- 

 loving bird, it seems to be equally fond of the ground, and probably 



