new to Palestine. 329 



Addition. — I saw it frequently in the region about Mar 

 Saba, and in the hills east of the Jordan. I have specimens 

 from both these localities, and others from the vicinity of 

 Beirut, as well as still others from the north end of the 

 Dead Sea. I should say it was pretty evenly distributed 

 over the country. 



No. 296. Cream-coloured Courser — Cursorius gallicus. 



Tristram. — " Rare in Palestine proper. I twice obtained 

 it near Acre ; I also saw it in the southern wilderness, and 

 on the upland of Eastern Moab/' 



Addition. — Very abundant between Jerusalem and Beth- 

 lehem on the Plain of R-ephaim and south-east towards 

 Mar Saba. 



No. 305. Dotterel — Eudromias morinellus. 

 Tristram. — " Vast flocks near Beer-Sheba/' 

 Addition. — I found them near Mar Saba in May, 1885. 



No. 34-4. Manx Shearwater — Puffinus anglorum. 



Tristram. — " Obtained a dead specimen near Mount 

 Carrnel." 



Addition. — I have two fine specimens, obtained at Jaffa in 

 1884. 



I have observed, during my residence of nearly seven years 

 in Palestine, that there were great variations in the migrations 

 of birds. Some years the land was full of them, and the 

 next year, perhaps, there seemed to be very few. For 

 example, I remember that for two years there were but few 

 Ducks anywhere in the southern part of the country ; the 

 next year, however, they were very abundant. What 

 Dr. Tristram says of the Dotterel, No. 305, may have been 

 peculiar to that year. The same I know is true of my 

 observation under No. 296, respecting the Cream-coloured 

 Coursers. In other years, while found here and there, they 

 were scarce; the year referred to they were abundant. 

 The Arabs brought to our hotel large numbers of them for 

 our table. Similar remarks would be true of Quails, and of 

 some other birds. Seasons vary in character and circum- 

 stances which we cannot explain, and may combine to cause 



