Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 21 1 



yards of houses in Jerusalem and in the Temple-area, where, from 

 its tame and confiding habits, it appears to be semidomesticated. 

 T. risorius, the Indian Collared Turtle, perhaps the handsomest 

 as well as the largest of the group, is also a permanent resident 

 round the Dead Sea, but only in small numbers in winter, 

 when it is shy and wary. In spring its numbers are largely 

 increased, and it spreads itself tlirough the greater part of the 

 country, up to Mount Tabor, and breeds everywhere in trees 

 and bushes, generally living in small flocks of eight or twelve 

 together. According to Dr. Jerdon this gregarious habit has 

 also been noticed in India (B. Ind. ii. p. 482). T. risorius has 

 lately been obtained at Constantinople, its extreme western- 

 most range, by Mr. E. C. Taylor (Ibis, 1864, p. 410) and others. 

 As it has not yet been noticed in Africa*, it is a curious 

 speculation whence its numbers in Syria are recruited in spring. 

 The note of all these species is very distinct. That of T. sene- 

 galensis is a low monotonous " coo " quickly and softly repeated, 

 while T. risorius has a clear anapsestic note " coo-coo coo." There 

 is no difference in the nidification of any of the three species. 



The game-birds of Palestine are numerous both in species 

 and individuals, though Hawks are many, and game-preservers 

 none. On the Sand-Grouse I have nothing to add to our 

 previous stock of knowledge. They were too wild in winter to 

 give us any opportunity of studying their habits, as I had done 

 in the Sahara j and in the spring we were far from their haunts. 

 There are at least four species to be noticed, and all of them 

 very numerous. They resort to the barren plains, everywhere 

 irrespective of elevation, from the Arabah up to the high 

 plateau above Damascus. The Palestine species are Pterocles 

 exustus, P. senegolensis, P. arenarius, and P. alchata, to which 

 I believe further research might add others, although no 

 Scythian invasion appears to have reached Palestine. So nume- 

 rous are the Sand-Grouse in spring between Damascus and 



* [We take this opportunity of mentioning that we have been in- 

 formed by Mr. Edward Newton that the insertion of the name of this 

 species among those seen by him between Malta and Alexandi'ia (Ibis, 

 1859, p. 462) was an en'or of transcription. The bird seen by him 

 on that occasion was T. auritns. — Ki>.] 



