280 Phillips, Birds of Sinai. [july 



and forehead, but Nicoll shows that this is not constant at least for Egypt. 

 The type locality of A. h. cholmleyi, however, is near Suakin, Sudan (O. 

 Grant, Hand-Book of Game Birds, Vol. II, p. 294), where it is conceivable 

 that a form different from the Egyptian one may exist. At any rate the 

 Jerusalem series shows no variation in the white lores and forehead. 



Coturnix coturnix coturnix (Linn.). Egyptian Quail. — One cf; 

 Moses Wells, Suez, March 23. Seen only at above place and around 

 Dead Sea. 



Pteroclididce. 



Pterocles lichtensteini arabicus Neumann. — One d 1 ; Akaba, 

 April 14. 



The type locality of the true lichtensteini is from Nubia (Temm. Coll., PL, 

 Vol. V, pis. 25-26). This is based on Lichtenstein (Verz. Doubletten 1823, 

 p. 65). Nubia as used there included Sennar and part of Abyssinia and 

 was rather a vague term. 



In 1905 Erlanger (J. F. O., 1905, p. 92) separated a race, P. I. hyperythrus, 

 from southern Somaliland, at the same time limiting P. I. lichtensteini to 

 northern Abyssinia and northern Somaliland. 



Later on Neumann described two other forms, arabicus from southern 

 Arabia and sukensis from East Africa (Ornith. Monatsbr., 1909, p. 152). 



My single specimen, taken from a flock of 10 or 12 birds on the Sinai side 

 of the gulf near Akaba, extends somewhat the northwesterly range of the 

 species. There are other specimens collected by Burton in " Midian " 

 and at Jedda (Shelley Coll.). 



I have for comparison seven males from Hawash R., northern Abyssinia, 

 and six males from British East Africa, besides a number of females. 

 These specimens are mostly from the U. S. Nat. Mus. collection. The 

 first series is not far from the type locality of P. I. lichtensteini and the 

 second series should represent P. I. sukensis. 



The form arabicus which my own specimen represents is said to differ 

 from true lichtensteini by a general lighter and brighter color. The upp3r 

 tan-colored breast band of the same shade as the lower breast band, and 

 not darker as in P. I. lichtensteini. The lower black band, separating 

 breast from abdomen, much reduced or nearly absent, and the abdomen 

 itself lighter. The golden bars on the upper side as wide or wider than the 

 black bands, etc. In my specimen, however, not all of these characters are 

 present, for the species is itself extremely variable. The lower black breast 

 band is not reduced but the belly is lighter than any of the African speci- 

 mens. The lower tan-colored breast band is very similar in color to the 

 upper band, but in the type species, the two areas sometimes closely re- 

 semble each other. The character of barring on the upper side is a very 

 variable one and I should say of little value in separating arabicus from 

 lichtensteini. The only constant character then, as far as my series goes, 

 is the very light belly area of the Arabian race. 



