SHARPE : NOTES ON BIRDS COLLECTED BY E. M. TOUNQ. 



307 



8. Otocorys penicillata, Gould. — Pencilled Lark, 

 Otocorys scriha, B.P. 



Alauda penicillata, Gould. 



Not a very common bird. It is chiefly remarkable for a horn on each 

 side of the head, which is erected perpendicularly when aj^proached. They 

 fly in companies of from three to twelve birds, and are tame and familiar in 

 their nature. The present sj^ecimens were shot in the snow drifts of Hermon 

 in June, a nest was found with young ones hatched. It is I believe very 

 common ir Persia, (See Mr. Tristram's ' Land of Israel,' where he calls it the 

 Persian lark.) It is found in numbers in the highest regions of Lebanon 

 and Anti-Lebanon. 



9. Euticilla tithys. Scop. — Blackstart. 

 Motac'dla tithys, Linn. 



Ruticilla erytlima, B.P. 



Mr, Young has given nie the following note concerning this rare species. 

 " This little bird was not easily obtained ; I shot it among the cedars of 

 Lebanon, where its peculiarly shrill note attracted my attention. I had not 

 seen it previously in Syria, but there seemed to be several among the cedar 

 trees. Its cunning in keeping close to the thickest boughs, and dodging me 

 round them as often as I caught sight of its red breast, for a moment was 

 quite provoking. After a chase of about two hours, I was fortunate enough 

 to secure the present specimen, not without a long hunt, for falling from a 

 lofty branch, it was caught and hidden by a fork in the tree, and I had 

 almost given up the search as vain. Mr. Tristram shot the bird, I believe in 

 the same neighbourhood." It is also known by the name of the Black Eed- 

 start and has occasionally been met with in this country though of very rare 

 occurrence. 



10. Saxicola leucomela, Gould. — Black and White Stonechat. 

 Motacilla leucomela, Pall. 



This pretty little bird (often confounded with B. capistrata,) is remark- 

 able for its delicate form, and the strongly marked contrast of the plumage. 

 Mr. Young says it was common in Nubia where he usually found it in pairs, 

 He further adds, " the nest of this bird I could never obtain, although I fre- 

 quently felt sure I was close to it. It builds in the holes of the Nubian 

 rocks, and may often be observed upon a spray or crag by the river bank. I 

 also found the bird in the Siuaitic desert among the wadies west of the 

 peninsula, but it was not common. 



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