THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 241 
of Museyib, June 12th and a few miles west of Baghdad on May 28th, the only 
trans-Euphrates record. Cumming got it at Fao and Woosnam records it from 
the coastal plain of N. W. Bushire. It is probably resident where it occurs, and a 
true denizen of bare desert. Buxton notes that at Shaiba the desert is very slightly 
covered with pebbles, otherwise it resembles the desert in other parts of the plain. 
Ts is rather remarkable that its range should be so restricted, but in Sind I have 
found it a very local bird, so possibly it may vet be proved to inhabit other parts 
of the plain, indeed Zarudny records it from his ‘* Mesopotamian region ” which 
in this paper I have referred to as Karun district. Cheesman says he was often 
deceived by the note of this bird which is like the whistle of a school-boy. 
Eight specimens examined: ¢ Shaiba, 1-6-18, 2 , 5-9-16, g, 11-9-16 (P.Z.C: 
and R. E.C.); ¢ Shaiba, 12-8-18, 22-8-18, 2, 12-8-18 (P. A. B.); 2 Faoin B. M.- 
The worn breeding birds are very grey above ; August birds in moult, with 
body feathers aimost perfect, vary much in colour ; a male, shot on the same 
day as a female in similar state of plumage, is much more washed with grey on 
the upperparts than the latter, in which sandy isabelline predominates ; so that 
evidently one must be very guarded in depending on colouration in determining 
the races of these birds, and not only does individual variation have to be con- 
sidered but the effect of wear, as in time the grey wash and the isabelline tone 
both get worn off leaving a pronounced grey colour. These birds match a series 
from Karachi very well. Wings ¢ 132-138, bill (exposed) ¢ 26-28, from base 
32-33, 2 24-25, from base 30°5 mm. These are smaller measurements than 
Hartert gives (Vég. Pal. F., p. 251), but I find Karachi birds measure almost 
precisely the same. 
44, Shore Lark. Eremophila alpestris. 
Eremophila alpestris bilopha, Temm. (PI. Col., 244, 1823-—Akaba in Arabia) 
Pitman was the only observer who came across the Shore Lark in Mesopotamia ; 
he first noted a flock of six on December 12th, feeding on the parade ground at 
Samarra away from the Sky and Short-toed Larks. He saw others at the same 
place in January and also a flock of 20 or 39 out in the desert near the camp, 
while on February 9th, a large flock was met with at Daur. 
Five specimens examined: d ¢ 2, Samarra, 30-12-17, ¢ 2, 12-12-17 (C. R. P.). 
I cannot separate these from specimens from Algiers, Tunisia, Morocco and the 
Dead Sea. Wear often makes the upperparts a more orange-rust colour and 
less vinaceous pink. 
45. Water Pipit. Anthus spinoletta. 
(1} Anthus spinoletta blakistoni, Swinh, (P. Z. S., 1863 p. 99—R. 
Yangtze, China). 
(2) Anthus spinoletta coutellii, Savig. (Desc. de Egypte, XX XIII, p. 
360, 1828—Evypt). 
There are remarkably few field notes about the Water Pipit, which is a fairly 
common winter visitor. A fair number winter in Mesopotamia but more are to 
be met with at the times of spring and autumn migrations, coming from and 
going to places further south. Buxton noted it as common in flooded plaeas 
on the grass farm at Amara in November and Decembez, and 1 found it common 
though exceedingly wild in similar situations at Basra in November. The 
spring passage appears to take place during the last week in March. 
Sassi records cowiellit from Mosul in January and Zarudny both races in the 
Karun district as winter visitors and passage migrants. 
Thirteen specimens examined : blakistoni-- g , Amara, 7-11-17, 10-12-17, 26-2-18, 
Q, 7-11-17; @ 2, Baghdad, 22-3-18; o, Kurna, 17-3-18; Aligharbi,—3-3-18 
(P. A. B.); ¢, Sheik Saad, 25-3-17 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) cowiell#i. Sheik Saad, 
23-3-17, g 22-3-17 (P. Z.C. and R. E. C.) ; intermediate ¢, Twin Canals, 2-12-16 
(P. Z. C. and R. E. C.); Hawi Plain, 13-12-17 (C. R. R.). 
31 
