AND ISABELLINE BIRDS. 265 



In 'The Ibis' (N. S. vol. ii. 1866, p. 283), "On the Ornithology of 

 Palestine," part iv., Mr. Tristram says, " the only egg of this Cuckoo 

 \_Cuculus canorus, L.] we found was near Jericho, in the nest of a Desert- 

 Lark (^Ammomanes isabelUnus)." Again (p. 286), "the next group, Ammo- 

 manes, is an exclusively desert form, and very closely allied to the typical 

 Alauda. While in the Sahara it is represented by four species, w^e found 

 but two in Palestine, both confined to the Dead-Sea region and the southern 

 wilderness. Of these, A. deserti (Licht.) is the least common, being 

 met with only in the highlands close to the Dead Sea, in very small 

 bands." 



That colour has for its object, at least in some birds, the safety of the 

 owner, has been pointed out by Mr. Wallace. He mentions also the coat of 

 the arctic bear and the American polar hare, which, he says, are white all the 

 year round. In the ptarmigan of Scotland we have an example of a 

 plumage which changes as the danger arrives, with equal step. Mr. Sharpe, 

 in his lecture delivered in the Hulme Town Hall, Manchester, November 10, 

 1875, says " the Hoopoes (Upupidss), by reason of their sandy colour, 

 might be known almost certainly to be inhabitants of a desert region. 

 It is said that this sandy colour is a great protection to the Hoopoe ; 

 for, on seeing a Hawk, he throws himself flat upon the ground, turns his 

 wings round, and sticks his bill up in the air, so as to look as much as 

 possible like a bit of old rag." 



Here let me remark on the tendency which desert birds appear to have 

 to run instead of fly. Of course the Ostrich occurs to one's mind ; but 

 Mr. Dresser observes of Cursorius isabellinus, the familiar Cream-coloured 

 Courser of our British lists, now, alas ! turned into Cursorius galUcus Q Birds 

 of Europe,' Sept. 1875, C. gallicus, p. 5) : — "By those who have had an 

 opportunity of observing it in a wild state, it is said to be a true desert-bird, 

 and to a certain extent local in its distribution even there. Before takina: 



