228 Col. R. Meinertzhagen 07i the [Ibis, 



commenced on 21.x., when a single adult female appeared, 

 after which a few females and birds of the year appeared. 

 Their numbers increased about 23. xi., when they became 

 very common, adult males being the last to arrive. They 

 were plentiful throughout the winter in the coastal plain, the 

 Shephelah, the Juda?an highland?, and the Jordan Valley. 



They commenced moving north in the first few days of 

 February, and except for one seen on 26. iii. they had all 

 gone by 21. iii. It was noticed that in winter birds were 

 in pnirs, though the southern migration appears to be 

 separately undertaken. 



Of the six specimens brought home, none have any white 

 at the base of the tail, and in the two males the upper tail- 

 coverts are flecked with bkack. The wings of two males 

 measure 06 and G7 mm., and those of four females from 

 63 to GG mm. 



Phcenicurus phcenicurus. 



P. p. "pliQ^mciirns (L.). 

 Common on autumn passage in southern Palestine, where 

 perhaps a few remain for the winter. At Rafa the first 

 to appear was an adult male on 12, ix. The birds became 

 fairly common by 19. ix,, and were plentiful from 23.x. 

 to the end of the month. They were scarce throughout 

 November and very few were seen in December. No record 

 was made of the s})ring passage. 



P. ]>, mesolexica (H. & E,). 

 One example of this race was obtained on l.ix. at Khan 

 i'unus. Not otherwise o])served. 



Phcenicurus ochruros. 



P. 0. (iibraltar'iensis (Gm.). 

 A fairly common winter visitor to southern Palestine, the 

 first — an adult male — being seen at Rafa on 9. xi., but the 

 majority were confined to the Judpean highlands, where I 

 saw^ many, on 7.i. at Hebron, sitting disconsolate on stone 

 walls, but looking l^eautiful against a snow-clad country. 

 The food of this bird was, as far as I could judge, almost 

 confined to a small black ant. 



