36 
Kev. H. B. Tristram’s Notes 
97. Caccabis heyii (Temm.). 
Of this rare bird, perhaps one of the most elegant of its 
group, I was fortunate enough to obtain a fine specimen. Biding 
on a barren hill near the Dead Sea, we observed a pair of birds 
scarcely larger than a quail running on the steep side with the 
swiftness of a dog. After a long chase, and forcing them with 
great difficulty to take wing, one of my companions, Mr. 
Musters, succeeded in shooting the male bird, which he kindly 
presented to me. We afterwards saw another pair near Mar Saba. 
The whole plumage, with the orange bill and lemon-coloured 
tarsi, is a singular blending of the characteristics of the types 
of Caccabis and Perdix. 
98. COTURNIX DACTYLISONANS. 
Extremely abundant wherever there is cultivation in the 
plains. 
99. Otis tarda. 
I am told that this bird is sometimes brought into the market 
at Jaffa from the Plain of Sharon. 
100. Otis tetrax. 
Not uncommon in the corn-fields on the plains. 
101. (Edicnemus crepitans. 
Abundant in the plains. 
102. Hoplopterus spinosus. 
A pair observed on the banks of the Jordan. 
103. Grus cinerea. 
Saw a flock near Lydda, apparently on their migration. The 
bird is well known to the inhabitants. 
104. ClCONIA ALBA. 
Several seen not far to the north of Jerusalem. 
105. ClCONIA NIGRA. 
I met with a flock of about two hundred Black Storks, appa¬ 
rently searching for food in the barren salt plain close to the 
north-west corner of the Dead Sea. They were too wary to 
allow me to approach within shot, but did not fly far when dis¬ 
turbed. As well as I could discover, they were feeding on the 
