314 Dr. P. L. Sclater on some Birds 



access from either side. The would-be explorer should start 

 early in the year from Bagdad, and come out in the late 

 spring by the Syrian Desert. This expedition would be full 

 of novelty and of great interest in many ways. 



20. Amydrus tristrami. 



Amydrus tristrami Tristr., op. cit. p. 74, pi. xi. 



a. $. Petra, 30.4.05. Bill and feet black; iris dark 

 hazel. 



This fine Rock-Starling we might well anticipate would be 

 resident at Petra. 



21. Pyrrhocorax graculus. 



Pyrrhocorax graculus Dresser, Man. Pal. B. p. 445. 



a, b, c. c^s. Mountains east of Kuryatein, 1.4.05. 



Canon Tristram remarks (op. cit. p. 74) that he never 

 observed the Cornish Chough in Palestine or Syria. But 

 there can be no question that these three specimens belong 

 to the red-billed British species, which extends far eastwards 

 into Kashmir and Sikkim. 



22. Ammomanes deserti. 



Ammomanes deserti Tristr., op. cit. p. 79 ; Dresser B. Eur. 

 iv. pi. 233. 



a-d. S S S ? • Kuryatein, 24.3.05. 



These birds quite agree with a Palestine specimen (Engedi, 

 Tristram) . I doubt whether A. algeriensis can be satisfactorily 

 differentiated, even as a subspecies. 



23. Otocorys penicillata. 



Otocorys penicillata Tristr., op. cit. p. 83 ; Dresser, B. Eur. 

 iv. pi. 244. 



O. penicillata, subsp. O. bicornis Sharpe, Cat. B. xiii. p. 532. 



Eremophila alpestris bicornis Hart. Pal. Vog. pal. Faun, 

 p. 263. 



a. £ , b. ? . Nebk, east of Damascus, 1.3.05 ; c, d. $ . 

 22.3.05 ; e. ? . Kuryatein, 24.3.05. 



The two specimens from Nebk are not so rufous above, 

 and have the white frontal band broader. They agree with 

 Canon Tristram's specimens from Mount Hermon. But 



