Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 287 
in Palestine, both confined to the Dead-Sea region and the 
southern wilderness. Of these, A. deserti (Licht.) is the least 
common, being found only in the highlands close to the Dead 
Sea, in very small bands. It may be considered a distinct 
variety from the Saharan A. deserti ( = A, isahellina , Temm.j, 
from its paler and less rufous coloration and its more robust 
bill. The black on the rectrices is also further extended. But 
I cannot see any good specific difference, especially as two 
specimens in my collection from Nubia present an intermediate 
link in coloration; I have no doubt of its distinctness from the 
next form, A. fraterculus, mihi (P. Z. S. 1864, p. 434), which is 
smaller, with a very short conical beak and a darker throat. 
This is by far the most abundant of the Desert-Larks and the 
widest in its distribution. We had long been familiar with it, 
and had collected many specimens, before the larger species was 
met with and was recognized at once by us at Engedi as 
distinct, from its flight and note. Up to that time, having no 
specimens for comparison, we had taken the lesser form to be 
identical with the African bird. The eggs are very distinct 
from those of any other species of Lark, having a creamy-white 
ground, evenly powdered with very fine brown and reddish dots, 
and no large blotches. They are not unlike some varieties of 
the Pied Wagtail. The eggs of A. fraterculus are more thickly 
spotted than those of the other species. I regret that I have 
had no opportunity of comparing the Palestine species with the 
Indian ones described by Dr. Jerdon, as they might throw 
much light on the distribution of this interesting group. 
Of the typical Alaudince, Alauda arhorea , L., is the only one 
which we found breeding; it remains all the year in the country, 
wintering in the hills about Jerusalem in small flocks, and dis¬ 
persing into the neighbourhood of oliveyards and woods in the 
breeding-season. It is not an uncommon bird. A. arvensis 
we found only in winter, on the seacoast in large flocks; and 
it does not appear to remain in any part of the country in 
spring. Probably these flocks are migrants from the far north, 
as they never penetrate inland. There their place is taken by 
the closely allied species A, cantarella , Bp., of which there were 
myriads in vast flocks about Beersheba in winter, where there 
