222 AVES. 



Alauda arvensis, Linn. {A. cantarella, Bp. ?) In large flocks in the 

 Ghor and the Judsean wilderness, following the sowers. 



^Ammomanes deserii, Licht. Obtained frequently in Sinai and the 

 'Arabah, and perhaps the most constantly met with species in the barest 

 desert. Occurred also between Tell el Milh and Blr es Seb4. Usually 

 from two to five together, with a feeble, plaintive little song. A desert 

 species ranging through the Sahara to Egypt, Nubia, and Abyssinia, and 

 eastwards to Scinde. 



Melanocorypha calandra, Linn. Calandra lark. Abundant between 

 Gaza and Jaffa. 



Caprimulgus tamaricis, Tristram. Several times I detected the 

 unmistakable flight of a goat-sucker quickly disappearing amongst the 

 nubk bushes in the Ghdr, but never succeeded in getting a shot. Canon 

 Tristram's Survey enables me to state the species. 



Picus syriacus, Hemp, et Ehr. Mr. Armstrong observed this species 

 amongst the olive-trees a little north of Gaza. 



Halcyon smyrnensis, Linn. Smyrna kingfisher. I saw this handsome 

 species several times in the Ghor ; and on one occasion shot one, but 

 could not discover it amongst reeds. Dr. Hull was more successful, and 

 secured a splendid specimen. This kingfisher has an excessively loud 

 and discordant, almost human cry, which it utters both at rest and on the 

 wing. This species is Indian, ranging from China to Western Asia, and 

 finding here its western limit. 



^Athene vieridionalis, Risso. Southern little owl. I saw this bird 

 first at 'Akabah, where it was the object of persecution of several chats. 

 Has been seen in Sinai. Subsequently at Gaza it was our constant 

 companion amongst the sycamore trees in the quarantine ground. At 

 Jericho also I both heard and saw it. Found in the Mediterranean 

 countries and eastward to Afghanistan. 



.? Bubo ascalaphus, Savigny. A cry was heard on the wing in the 

 wady leading to Es Sheikh from Dein el 'Arbain on Jebel Katharina, 

 which my Bedawin called the hoodoo. It was, I believe, that of an owl, 

 and not unlike the deep coo-like note of the snowy owl, but more musical. 



