390 Capt. R. Meinertzhagen : 



Assur (Shergat) the Black E-edstart (Ruticilla titys) was 

 common^ whilst a solitary Uobin [Erithacus rubecula) was 

 seen in some tamarisk scrub near Mosul. 



The Sparrow (^Passer domesticus) is common everywhere, 

 and the Rock Sparrow [Petronia stulta) was observed in the 

 hills around Mosul. A small flock of Goldfinches [Carduelis 

 elegans) was seen at Bagdad on Jan. 2, and Chaffinches 

 [Fringilla coelebs) were noticed at Tekrit and Mosul. There 

 was a small flock of Linnets at Nineveh, but whether they 

 were A cant his cannabina or A.fringillirosti'is,! am unable to 

 say. The Pine Bunting {Emberiza leucocephala) was seen 

 just north of Bagdad, and a solitary Ortolan [E. hortulana) 

 was noticed at Mosul. 



The Pied {Motacilla lugubris) and White (M. alba) Wag- 

 tails were plentiful throughout, the latter being the com- 

 moner of the two in Basra and Mohammerah. I saw an 

 undoubted Grey Wagtail [M. melanope) at Bagdad, and a 

 few Black-headed Wagtail (il/. melanocephala) on the river 

 between that place and Mosul. Several Pipits were noticed, 

 but their identification was uncertain. The Crested Lark 

 (^Galeriia cristata) is very common from Mohammerah to 

 Mosul, and can frequently be seen on the flat earth-roofs of 

 houses. The Skylark (^Alauda arvensis) was everywhere in 

 large flocks, but never away from cultivation. 



Of the Picarise, a solitary Roller, probably Coracias 

 garrula, was seen sitting on a telegraph Avire near Amara, 

 and Kingfishers of three varieties were observed. The Pied 

 Kingfisher {Ceryle rudis) extends from Fao to Mosul, 

 and as many as eleven were counted together at one 

 time. Several Common Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida) were 

 seen at Basra and in the marshes near Kurna, whilst the 

 AVhite-breasted Kingfisher (^Halcyon smymensis) is plentiful 

 at Basra and Mohammerah, where its noisy call is com- 

 monly heard in the date gardens. 



The Southern Little Owl {Athene glaux), conspicuous by- 

 its light colour, was plentiful along the river-bank and in 

 the ruined cities of Babylon and Assur, whilst at the former 



