204 Col. R. Meineitzliageii Ofi the [Ibis, 



on 23. xi. is a riclilj coloured rufous bird, and compares well 

 with typical British exnniplts. The other, shot on 22. iii., is 

 a light coloured bird with a bleached ap{)earanco, even 

 lighter than the palest Turkestan specimens. 



I commend the Corn Buntings of Palestine to Mr. 

 Banner man. 



Emberiza melanocephala Scop. 



A summer visitor to southern Palestine, keeping mainly 

 to the coastal plain and becoming less common near Gara. 

 Earliest arrivals were noted on 26. iii., the males preceding 

 the females, and the latest on 4. xi., so it is possible a few 

 remain for the winter. 



In spring one or two pairs can always be found in every 

 orange grove, the birds preferring those which have been cut 

 back. The nests were never more than three feet from the 

 ground and occasionally almost touching it. The nest is 

 usually in an orange tree, but sometimes in low scrub on a 

 bank. An abnornud nest found by lUarke was entirely made 

 of a species of yellow flowering trefoil, which was in full 

 bloom when it was found. 



Of eight birds obtained the wings of males vary from 89 

 to 97 mm., being mostly between 92 and 94. 



Emberiza hortulana L. 



Only ol)served as a bird of passage. In spring it com- 

 mences passing north in the coastal plain from 17. iii. 

 In autumn at llafa it was first observed on 8. ix., singly 

 and in small family parties. The numbers increased on 

 17, ix., but became less on 28. ix., and none were seen after 

 5.x. No adult male was observed in autumn. 



Emberiza caesia Cretzs. 



A summer visitor and bird of passage to southern Palestine, 

 breeding on Mount Carmel, where eggs were hard-set on 

 28. iii., as well as south to Ramleh and in the Judjean hills. 



In autumn it commences moving south at the end of 

 August and gradually works its way across northern Sinai, 

 apparently in a south-westerly direction, to its winter 



