416 Mr. M. J. NicoU — Contributions 



Prinia gracilis gracilis (Licht.). 



Drymwca gracilis Shelley, p. 98 ; Loat, Ibis, 1905, 

 p. 456. 



Prinia gracilis gracilis (Licht.), Hartert, Vog. d. pal. F. 

 vol. i. p. 608. 



This pale subspecies of the " Graceful Wreu-Warbler " is 

 resident in the Wadi Natron, and I have a number of its 

 skins as well as eggs. 



It may not be out of place to offer here a few remarks on 

 the geographical distribution of the two forms of Prinia 

 which occur in Egypt. 



The typical form, P. g. gracilis, was first described from 

 Nubia (Lichteustein, Verz. Doubl., Berlin, p. 34 (1823)). 



Shelley, in his * Birds of Egypt, ' called attention to the 

 difference between examples of '^ Drynnrca ^' from Lower and 

 Upper Egypt ; subsequently Dr. Keichenow described the 

 form inhabiting the Nile Delta as P. g. delta: (J. f. O. 1904, 

 p. 307). Lastly, in his book on Palaearctic Birds, Dr. 

 Hartert mentions that the typical form occurs in the Wadi 

 Natron, Avhicli he wrongly states to be south of Cairo. 

 Mr. Loat also mentions that his specimens from the Wadi 

 Natron belong to the pale form. I am now able to say 

 from my own observations that the distribution of the two 

 forms is as follows : — P. g. deltos ranges from the north of the 

 Nile Delta, Damietta, and Mariotis on the west, to Suez on 

 the east ; while P. g. gracilis is found as far north as the 

 Wadi Natron and Fayoum, both of which places are oases 

 in the Western desert (the former being north of Cairo) ; 

 but never, so far as I am aware, is it to be met with in the 

 Nile Valley, north of Luxor, the dark alluvial soil apparently 

 being inhabited by the dark Prinia g. deltcR only. 



MoTACILLA alba ALBA LiuU. 



Motacilla alba Shelley, p. 126 ; Loat, Ibis, 1905, 

 p. 457. 



The White Wagtail was abundant during my visit in 

 March, and is doubtless a winter visitant there as elsewhere 

 in Egypt. It was very abundant in November 1911. 



