236 Col. R. Meiiiertzhagen on the [Ibis, 



thai date their numbers gradually increased till late August, 

 when they were very common everywhere, as many as 

 twenty-three being seen sitting in a thorn tree in the desert. 

 After 17. ix. the numbers gradually decreased, the last 

 being seen on 24. ix. In the following year three belated 

 birds were seen at Jerusalem on 20. xi., but this is 

 exceptional. 



The spring passage in southern Palestine commenced on 

 24. iv. and continued till 12. v., the bulk in flocks of from 

 forty to seventy passing about 2^. iv. 



Ceryle rudis. 



C. r. rudis (L.). 



Common at the south end of the Jordan Valley in 

 November, and a common resident at Jaffa and Haifa. 

 None were obtained. 



Alcedo atthis L. 1758 (Egypt). (—A. Lynda L.) 

 A. a. atthis L. ( = ^l. ispida pallida Brehm.) 



A common l)ird of passage through southern Palestine and 

 a winter visitor to the coast, being seldom seen more than 

 five miles inland, though one was seen at the north end of 

 the Dead Sea in early November. The autumn passage com- 

 menced at Rafa on 1. viii., when quantities were seen on the 

 sea-coast resting on rocks and passing west towards Egypt. 

 By 15. viii. they were abundant on the coast from Gaza to 

 El Arish, their numbers diminishing throughout September. 

 Very few were seen either at Jaffa or Graza in winter. No 

 records were made of the spring passage and departure of 

 winter visitors. 



Halcyon smyrnensis. 

 U. s. smt/rnensis (L.). 



Not uncommon at the south end of the Jordan Valley, 

 where it is resident. A few occur on the coast throughout 

 the year, especially round Jaffa, only straggling as far as 

 Belah in winter. 



