54 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 



a tropical, chiefly Indian, genus. Multitudes of little fishes, Cyprinodon 

 dispar, Rupp., as mentioned by Tristram, were seen in the salt pools 

 close by. 



Although my visit was too early for many species of plants, yet on my 

 first day in the Feifeh I found at once numerous kinds not seen in Sinai, 

 of which a good many were both in flower and fruit. These must flower 

 continuously, or with a very brief respite ; others, chiefly European and 

 Mediterranean species, were rapidly advancing to the flowering stage 

 during our sojourn in the Ghor. 



A good number of Sinai species occur in the Ghor. An effect of the 

 moister climate on some of the woolly desert plants was noticeable. 

 These became very perceptibly less so in the Gh6r. Pulicaria undulata, 

 P. arabica, Tribulus terrestris, Verbascum sinuatum, may be instanced. 

 Possibly the salinity of the atmosphere assists in this ; the tendency of 

 plants to become glabrous by the seaside is familiar. On the other hand, 

 excessive dryness appears to provoke pubescence in plants, as well as 

 other striking qualities of pungent odours, gummy exudations, and con- 

 version of leaves to spines, all of which we may expect to find diminished 

 if the species can accommodate itself to moister conditions. 



I have hitherto spoken almost entirely of the plants. The district is of 

 as great interest in other branches of natural history. Canon Tristram's 

 various works have made this fact familiar. My prolonged stay at an 

 unusual season must indeed be my excuse for trespassing on a subject he 

 has made so peculiarly his own. 



The Gh6r swarmed with birds. About forty species were observed, of 

 which, with two or three exceptions, specimens were obtained. Some, 

 especially doves of two species, and bulbuls of the sort already met, were 

 extraordinarily abundant. The doves were the Indian collared turtle, 

 Turtur risorius, Linn.^ and a smaller beautifully bronzed species, T. 

 senegalensis, Linn. 



On the Dead Sea mud, redshanks, lapwings, and sandpipers flitted 

 and fed, but they were confined to those parts of the margin which were 

 tempered by fresh water. Snipe, water-rails, and ducks of British sorts 

 were frequently met with. Marsh sparrows in great flocks also kept near 

 the shore. Buntings and larks of three sorts were in vast numbers 

 throughout the stubbles of maize. The two desert partridges occurred 



