290 Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 
the flanks,, and those on the throat are of the faintest; yet I can 
see no specific characters to afford a diagnosis. Other specimens 
obtained in the same district are precisely like our own. 
Of Anthus cervinus, Pall., we only obtained a single specimen, 
on the coast of the Plain of Sharon in winter in February. 
Anthus arboreus, Bechst., is a scarce bird in Palestine, but 
occurring in winter as well as in spring, though at the former 
period only obtained by us in the Jordan valley. It breeds in 
the north. 
Of the Wagtails we saw but little. During winter we never 
met with any Yellow Wagtail, and in spring we only once fell 
in with them. When at Jericho, April 14, I observed a large 
flock of Budytes cinereocapilla (8&vi), evidently on their migration; 
they remained but one evening; and I secured several specimens, 
all of this form. On the next morning the flock took its 
departure for the north; nor was this bird ever seen by any of 
our party, excepting myself. If it had remained to breed, I 
think it could scarcely have escaped our observation; and I infer 
that it only occurs in Palestine on passage. I may add that I 
saw in Jerusalem a skin obtained there of B. nigricapilla , Bp. 
From a large series of specimens I am inclined to make the 
induction that there is but one Budytes flava, and that the 
variations in the intensity of the colour of the head are not 
sufficiently determinate to afford specific value. From the 
British Isles we have a regular series of gradations till we reach 
Greece, from the green-headed B. rayi of this country to the 
black-headed B. nigricapilla. Yet in Spain and Algeria the 
intermediate forms occur, while they decidedly predominate in 
Italy and Tunis. In Greece, where B. nigricapilla is most fre¬ 
quent, B. cinereocapilla is not uncommon; and thence as we 
proceed eastwards the intensity of coloration diminishes, till in 
China and Amoorland we find B. flava, and in Japan B. rayi may 
be expected. Mr. Swinhoe’s notes (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, 
p. 274 et seq.), are well worth consideration on this subject. 
Motacilla sulphurea, Bechst., is common in winter, but leaves 
in February, long before assuming the nuptial dress. M. alba, 
L., is very abundant everywhere in winter, but becomes scarce 
as the spring advances, and is not seen at all in the south in 
