lo SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 



of spring. Possibly these latter should be called hybernal. A few species, 

 as Cleome arabica, Linn., are in their prime at present for examination, 

 being in full flower and fruit. This Cleome is one of the most viscid 

 plants met with, taking many weeks to dry, and never shaking off the 

 adhering sand. It has small deep purple flowers and longish pods. 



A black snake, probably Zamenis atrovirens, Shaw., var. carbonarius, 

 was killed here, but I was informed it was last seen with the cook. 

 Whether it subsequently passed under examination in the dinner tent I 

 cannot say, but I never succeeded in identifying it. 



Desert larks representing three genera were obtained ; one of these, 

 Certhilauda, has been already mentioned. Other two, Ammomanes 

 deserti, Licht., and Alauda isabellina, Bonap., were also shot. The latter 

 is one of the most frequently met with of the true inhabitants of the 

 desert. The Persian lark (Certhilauda desertorum, Rupt.), a bird about 

 the size of our song-thrush, has a low sweet song, uttered while on the 

 ground, and not much stronger than or unlike our robin's winter warble. 

 A large and handsome black and white chat {Saxicola monacha, Temn.) 

 was shot in Widy Hamr. Tracks of gazelles were here first observed. 



At Widy Hamr we are crossing beds of a highly coloured red sand- 

 stone, which has replaced the white and black weathered limestone. The 

 black and white chats are more conspicuous amongst these rocks ; when 

 at rest on a chalky surface dotted with fragments of chert these birds are 

 not quickly seen. The desert larks are, however, the most securely 

 assimilated to the soil. The females of some chats {e.g., S. monacha) are 

 more protectively coloured than the males. 



The sandstone which we were now traversing is the regular inscription 

 rock of the desert, on which the Bedawin of all ages have delighted to air 

 their calligraphy, and not unfrequently impose upon travellers with their 

 rude tribe-marks. 



Our direction was mainly south-east, and steadily rising. At the head 

 of Widy Hamr, about 1,300 feet above the sea-level, we obtained our 

 first view of the Sinaitic mountains. Jebel Serbal stood out, grand and 

 rugged, straight ahead of us, looking about one-half of his real distance 

 from us, so excessively clear was the atmosphere. 



Leyssera capillifolia, D.C., was gathered here for the first time, and 

 the favourite camel grass, Elionurus {Coslorachis) hirsuta, Vahl., was 

 gathered in flower. 



