Notes on the Birds of Aden. 13 



II. — Further Notes on the Birds of Aden. 

 By Lieut.-Col. J. W. Yerbury, H.A., F.Z.S. 



(Plate I.) 



So much has ah'eady been written by the late Mr. Barnes 

 (Ibis, 1893, pp. 57 & 165) and by myself (Ibis, 1886, p. 11 

 et seqq.) about the physical aspect of the country in the 

 neighbourhood of Aden that it is necessary to say but little 

 more on that subject. Haithalhim, which was formerly one 

 of my favourite hunting-grounds in this district, has been, I 

 regret to say, almost entirely spoiled by floods. The irri- 

 gation works have been destroyed and half the garden has 

 been carried away; the trunks of big tamarind-trees, 15 feet 

 or more in circumference, are to be seen lying in the river- 

 bed, while the remaining trees are either dead or dying. I 

 was unlucky in the time that I selected for visiting Lahej, 

 as, owing to the drought, the country was quite burnt up, 

 the jowari and other crops having in great measure failed in 

 consequence. I must add a few words of explanation as to 

 why so little was done ornithologically during my recent 

 trip. When I decided to visit Aden I determined to direct 

 my attention chiefly to the following groups — Diptera, 

 Mammals, and Reptiles, — and only to collect such birds as 

 appeared in the Aden list as " species incertse," or which I 

 did not recognize. On showing a list of Aden birds to 

 Dr. Sharpe before going out and asking him to tick off the 

 desiderata, I found my field of work considerably increased, 

 though even then I was glad to see not enough to necessitate 

 systematic collecting. Specimens of many common species, 

 however, were obtained, as at times it was necessary to feed 

 the skinner (taxidermist, as he loved to style himself), when 

 there were no mammals or good birds for him to work at. 

 But after all a great deal still remains to be done ornitho- 

 logically in the neighbourhood, while a visit to the moun- 

 tains inland would probably i)roducc unknown treasures. 



It having been suggested that the addition of a few words 

 regarding the localities of the present collection is necessary, 

 I now give them. The bulk of my collection was made round 

 about three places, viz. : — Shaik Othraan, about five miles 



