254 Col. R. Meinertzliagen on the [Ibis, 



variation, especially in a species Avliich is subject to consider- 

 able individual variation in colouring-. 



The wings o£ two males measure 224 and 24:6 mm., and 

 tbat of a female 246 mm. 



Cursorius gallicus. 



( '. g. (jall'ivus (Gm.). 



A common summer visitor to southern Palestine and north- 

 ern Sinai, at least as far north in the coastal plain as 

 Ramleh, where it is rare. The spring arrival was not 

 noted. The autumn departure synchronises with the 

 hibernating of lizards and insects which are the main food ; 

 it takes place about 21. ix. None Mere seen after 4. x., except 

 a family party which remainetl near >Shellal till at least 

 3. xii. 



The birds lay round Rafa and Belab in June, eggs being- 

 found near Ramleli on 25. vii. \)j Shiden, and young on .30. vii. 

 They kept in family parties till they departed, and showed no 

 sign of " packing.'' Young birds commence to assume adult 

 plumage in the middle of October, which is completed by 

 early December. 



Glareola pratincola. 



G. p. jrratinrola (L.). 



Observed on spring passage at Rafa on 3. vi., when a party 

 of eleven birds rested near a lake for eight days, and on 

 autumn passage on 4.x. near Shellal, when a few were seen 

 on the desert. 



This is a common breeding species on the Wadi Rubin, 

 nesting among open rushes on sand. Birds were sitting on 

 full clutches on 30. vi. 



Glareola nordmanni Nordm. 



Not observed by me, but Sladen obtained one on the Wadi 

 Gaza on 4. x. 



Charadrius hiaticula. 



('. /(. tundvr (Lowe). 

 A few non-breeding birds were at Rafa in June, ami 



