147 [ \^ol. xliii. 



of simplifying the arrangement of the wing, or of getting 

 rid of the gap which might cause the wing to be less 

 efficient. 



" Diastataxic wings are retained by birds that pail or 

 glide. Eutaxy has been attained by birds that depend 

 on wing-beats to lift the body, and have need of the most 

 closely-knit wing possible." 



Colonel R. Meinertzhagen exhibited and described three 

 new PaJfBarctic forms, as follows : — 



(Enanthe mcesta brooksl)aiiki, subsp. nov. 



Adult male similar to (Enanthe m. moesta, but more mealy 

 and with apparently not so much rufous in the plumage. 

 Also larger, especially in the bill. 



Adult female less rufous than in the typical race. 



Wing of 5 males, 93-97 mm. ; culmen, 19-19"5 mm. 



Wing of 2 females, 92-93 mm. ; culmen, 18*5, 19*5 mm. 



Ti/pe. In the Tring Museum. Adult male, near El Jid, 

 long. 40° E., lat. 33° N., Northern Arabian Desert, 

 30. X. 1922. 



Ohs. This large race appears to inhabit the Syrian and 

 North Arabian Deserts. 



Ammomanes deserti annae, subsp. nov. 



Near Ammomanes deserti saturatus from Southern Arabia, 

 but even darker below, the sooty colour on the breast and 

 flanks appearing to be more intense and of greater extent. 

 Base of bill usually deeper. 



Wing of 6 males, 101-107 mm. ; culmen, 14"5-16'5 mm. 



Wing of 4 females, 98-101 mm. ; culmen, 14'5-16 mm. 



T(/pe. In the Tring Museum. Adult female, 30 miles 

 east of Azraq (60 miles east of Amman, on the Hejaz 

 Railway, in Transjordania), shot on 27. x. 1922. 



Obs. This dark race extends in North Arabia from about 

 20 miles west of Azraq to the lava-hills 90 miles east 

 of that place. 



Prinia gracilis irakensis, subsp. nov. 



Considerably darker and with broader centres to the 

 feathers than in Prinia g. lepida. Tail as in lepida, but 



