FAUNA AND FLORA OF SINAI, PETRA, AND WADY 'ARABAH. 31 



than most parts of Sinai. Jerboas were seen a few times, and Gerbilles, 

 of which I trapped one, appear to be most numerous. 



Birds increased in numbers and variety. From El Tiba north- 

 wards, about twenty-five miles from 'Akabah, a grove of acacias (chiefly 

 A. tortilis, Hayne.), and a little Zizyphus, stretches about ten miles 

 along the eastern edge of the 'Arabah. A smaller grove occurs nearer 

 'Akabah, at the mouth of Wady el Ithm, where I first met with the 

 ' hopping- thrush.' In the larger grove the handsome Loranthus acacice, 

 Zucc, abounds. 



Several times I endeavoured to get a shot at a small bird here which 

 uttered a sharp little note, new to me, but I was unsuccessful. Mr. 

 Armstrong, who was with me that day, and is well skilled in Palestine 

 birds, recognised it, having also seen the bird, as the little Sunbird, 

 Cinnyris Osecs. Subsequently, when I reached the Gh6r, I obtained 

 several specimens and recognised the note at once. This species has not 

 been detected south of the Ghdr, where it was first made known, like the 

 hopping-thrush, by Canon Tristram. 



The Sunbird probably follows the Loranthus, to whose flowers it 

 appears attached. Its long bill reaches the base of the tubular flower, 

 searching for honey, and it thus probably secures their cross-fertilization. 

 One was shot in the Ghor in the act of doing so, its bill being covered 

 with the pollen of the Loranthus.* 



The hopping-thrush {Argya Squamiceps) is a remarkably weak flier, 

 hardly leaving the ground except in tremendous jumps, which cause his 

 large fan-shaped tail to overbalance and almost overturn him as he makes 

 a pause. He is a most grotesque bird ; nevertheless the mournful cries 

 of one when I had shot his mate impressed me with a different feeling. 



Palestine bulbuls were occasionally seen here also. Hooded chats, 

 Persian larks, and desert larks were frequent, and large flocks of sparrows 

 assembled about us in several places. 



The floor of the widy is sometimes alive with geckos, lizards, and ants, 

 as well as numbers of long- winged males of a Persian species of white 

 ants, Hoeotermes vagans. Hag., not yet able to fly, over which the hopping- 

 thrushes fall into inconceivable excitement. 



* Since writing tVie above I find that Burton has seen the Sunbird, almost certainly this 

 species, about five degrees from this southwards, in Midian. ' Land of Midian,' vol. ii. 



