706 Messrs. Sclater and Mackwortli-Praed on [Ibis, 



Parisoma blanfordi blanfordi. 



Sijlvia blanfordi Seebohm, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 979 : Rairo, 

 Eritrea ; Butler, Ibis, 1909, p. 397. 



Parisoma blanfordi Reichw. V. A. iii. p. 522. 



Sylvia momus (nee H. & E.), Butler, Il)is, 1908, p. 231. 



[B. coll.] 3 Erkowit Mch. Apl., 1 Klior Arbat May, 



R.S. 

 [C. & L. coll.] 4 Erkowit ApL, 17 Sinkat Mcb. R.S. 



This large series enables us to settle several vexed ques- 

 tions in regard to this bird. It undoubtedly breeds in the 

 Red Sea Province. With respect to the genus to which this 

 form should be referred, Seebohm made it a Sylvia, from 

 which, however, it differs in having a very long outer 

 primary just under half the length of the second (i. e. 

 averaging 20 and 45 mm.) ; the second is short as compared 

 with most of tlie true Sylvias, indeed, it is about equal 

 to the eighth or even shorter. 



In these characters our bird agrees with Parisoma, Ijut in 

 general coloration it closely resembles Sylvia, and in fact 

 it seems to l)ear the same relation to Sylvia that Calamo- 

 cichla does to Acrocephalus. 



The series before us is undoubtedly identical with the 

 type collected at Rairo by Blanford, but appears to be quite 

 distinct from the Somalihand bird. Hartert has recently 

 (Nov. Zool. xxiv. 1917, p. 459) distinguished the southern 

 Arabian l)ird. 



We find that in most respects the Arabian bird resembles 

 the Sudan bird, being only distinguished by its slightly 

 larger size and slightly darker colour. So close are they 

 that we should not have been inclined to separate them, but, 

 on the other hand, the Somaliland form is obviously distinct, 

 and we would shortly diagnose the three forms as follows ; — 



Parisoma blanfordi blanfordi Seebohm, supra. 



Wing of type 65, of males 67-70, of females 64-67 mm. ; 

 back an ashy brown, contrasting rather markedly with the 

 black head and nape. 



Distribution. Red Sea coast from Port Sudan to Eritrea. 



