2 2 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 



galeata, Fres. ; Cleome arabica, Linn. ; Ruta tuberculata, Forsk. ; Odonto- 

 spermum graveolens, S. Bip. ; Artemisia herba-alba, Asso., and vars. ; 

 Sonchus spinosus, Forsk. ; Verbascunt sinaiticum, Bth. ; and for the first 

 time Moricandia dumosa, Boiss. ; Capparis spinosa, Linn. ; Iphiona scabra, 

 Del., and Imperata cylindrica, Beauv. 



Frequent bags of fossils were obtained in situ for the assistance of the 

 Geological Survey. 



In birds, the white wagtail and the little cock-tailed wren-like warbler 

 (Drymoeca) were the most frequent. Desert larks and shrikes also 

 occurred at scattered intervals. A very small warbler, Sylvia nana, was 

 shot amongst tamarisk bushes. The song of the Drymoeca is quite wren- 

 like, but less piercing. 



The flora is that of the western side : Tamarix, Caylusea, Retama, 

 Ochradenus, Zilla, Santolina, Artemisia, J^xwa., Ballota, Stachys, Lavan- 

 dula, Anabasis, of species already mentioned, predominate. Several of 

 the Mount Sinai groups of labiates were missing, as also two or three 

 of the Iphiona group of composites. The larger Capparis was very 

 frequent, growing on the most arid rocks above the widy flats, where 

 nothing else, except perhaps Lavandula coronopifolia. Pair., appears 

 able to exist. Capparis galeata is sometimes an erect shrub 6 or 8 feet 

 high, of a bright green, differing from the slender trailing blue-foliaged 

 species, C. spinosa, which often grows with it. The former was now in 

 fruit, the latter barren. 



Camels delight in the larger grasses, in Ochradenus, Zilla, Nitraria, 

 Anabasis, and tamarisks. 



At the head of Widy el 'Ain, a grove of tamarisks was plentifully 

 indued with an excrescence or exudation of grayish-white pilules of a 

 viscid substance, with a faint taste of nucatine. This is the so-called 

 ' manna of Sinai,' which is, I believe, more plentifully obtained from 

 Alhagi maurorum, D.C. This gum is said to be due to the puncture of 

 a small insect. 



Life became more plentiful. Three butterflies were observed : a pale 

 blue, a sulphur-yellow with brown under wings, and an admiral. Hornets 

 and a long-bodied insect darted about in a broiling sun. I obtained all 

 these except the sulphur-yellow butterfly. 



In plants Suceda monoica, Fres., and for the rirst time the rare Linaria 



