Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine- 67 



*** ^^ caunot allow this communication to appear without 

 expressing our deep regret (in which, we are sure, all our readers 

 will sympathize) at the heavy misfortune which has lately 

 befallen Mr. Andersson. Some months since, in a hostile en- 

 gagement between two native tribes, one of which was living 

 under his protection, Mr, Andersson was most severely wounded ; 

 and though we are glad to say that, by the last accounts received 

 from him, his life seems to be out of danger, there is too much 

 reason to fear that this intrepid traveller has been crippled for 

 the rest of his days. — Ed. 



V. — On the Ornithology of Palestine. Part I. 

 By the Rev. H. B. Tristram, M.A., F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. 

 (Plate II.) 

 Most of the regions comprised in the northern hemisphere have 

 now been so far explored that the naturalist can scarcely anti- 

 cipate the discovery of many novelties in this portion of the 

 world. Yet the Fauna of Palestine, apart from the peculiar 

 interest of associations, sacred and historical, is of exceptional 

 value from the light it casts on the question of the geographical 

 distribution of species. In the first number of the former series 

 of the ' Ibis,^ I had the pleasure of drawing attention to the 

 ornithology of the Holy Land ; and I rejoice in being permitted, 

 after the lapse of six years, to occupy a few pages in the first 

 number of the new series with an account of some of the 

 results of a recent expedition to the same country. Ever since 

 my first visit to Palestine in 1858, I had been impressed with 

 the importance of a more complete investigation of its fauna 

 than had yet been undertaken ; and not the least of the many 

 obligations which I gladly acknowledge as due to the publication 

 of the ' Ibis ' is that it was the means of my being induced to 

 organize and take part in an expedition for the physical ex- 

 ploration of the Holy Land. A period of nearly ten months in 

 the past and present year was occupied in this expedition ; and 

 the results, though not very novel, are sufficiently interesting to 

 make us feel well rewarded for our exertions, while we obtained 

 fair collections in all the four classes of the vertebrate kingdom. 



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