292 PASSER 



Hob. Western Afghanistan, and Persia. 



Until Mr. Zarudny met with this sparrow in Persia, and 

 found it breeding commonly there, only the type was known. 

 It is closely allied to Passer modbiticus Tristr., but differs in 

 having the under parts yellow, not ashy white. The eggs 4 to 

 6 in number vary considerably, from stone -grey to grey closely 

 marked with warm brown, and occasionally white spotted and 

 blotched chiefly at the larger end with dark brown. In size 

 they measure about 0'72 by 0*52. 



428. SAXAUL SPARROW. 

 PASSER AMMODENDRI. 



"Passer ammodendri, Severtz.," Bode, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 481 ; Gould, B. 

 of As. v. p. 15 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. xii. p. 337 ; Dresner, ii. 

 p. 183, pi. 672; P. stolicskce, Hume, Str. Feath. ii. p. 516 (1874), 

 P. timidus, Prjev. Iz. Zais. Khami and Tibet, pp. 94, 95 (1883), 

 P. sever tzovi, Pleske, Bull. Ac. Imp. St. Petersb. xiii. p. 282. 



Vorobey sacsaulney, Buss. 



<$ ( Trans caspia). Crown, nape, lores, and a line through and behind 

 the eye deep black, some of the crown-feathers with narrow, faint buff 

 margins ; a broad patch bordering the crown to the nape clear rufous ; 

 upper parts buffy grey, streaked with black ; quills and tail blackish, the 

 former broadly, the latter narrowly margined with dull white ; lesser wing 

 coverts black, broadly tipped with white ; chin and throat deep black, 

 the rest of the under parts white ; bill black ; legs fleshy brown ; iris, 

 chocolate-brown. Culmen 0'5, wing 3*0, tail 2*6, tarsus 0*8 inch. In the 

 autumn the black feathers have greyish buff margins ; and the bill is dusky 

 flesh-yellow, darker at the tip. The female is duller, less streaked with 

 black, and lacks the rufous and black on the head and throat, the crown 

 being bufly grey, faintly streaked with blackish brown, the chin and throat 

 greyish white, tinged with blackish grey along the middle of the throat. 



Hal. From Transcaspia and Turkestan to Alaschan and 

 Ordos, wherever the saxaul is found growing. 



It prefers sandy or clayey localities, covered with thinly scattered 

 saxaul (Ammodendron) groves, in the vicinity of water, and feeds 

 on the seeds of the saxaul and other plants, small beetles, and 

 small orthopterous insects. Its flight is swift and it often flies at 

 .a considerable elevation. Its note resembles that of P. domesticus 

 but is shriller. Its nest, like that of P. domesticus, is sometimes 

 open, sometimes with the entrance at the side, and is con- 

 structed of dry twigs and bents and lined with camels' hair or 



