396 THE EMPTY QUARTER

(6) Arabian Pied Wheatear (Bijri or Da'ja): OenantJie lugens
lugentoides. From Sulaiyil (March 15th). Previously recorded
from Yaman, Aden Protectorate and Northern Somaliland.

(7) European Stonechat (Busaiya) : Saxicola torquata rubicola.
From Sulaiyil (March 15th). The common European Stonechat is
a winter visitor to Arabia, and also passes through on migration in
spring and autumn.

(8) Desert Warbler (Suwaiwala): Sylvia nana nana. Speci-
mens from Sanam, Majari Ma'shiya, Bani Jallab, *Ain Sala and
Adraj (February 6th to 12th). Very frequently observed through-
out Rub* al Khali. Major Cheesman remarks that this little Warbler
was the commonest bird in Jabrin, and Mr. Philby's experience
was the same. Indeed wherever bushes occurred, in the desert,
there were sure to be a pair or two of this Warbler about them.
It inhabits the sandy deserts of S.W. Asia from Sinai to Sind.

(9) Black-headed Wagtail (Scfu, female 8a'wa): Motacilh
feldeggfeldegg. From Sulaiyil (March 15th). This bird breeds in
S.E. Europe and E. Asia, and migrates through Arabia in spring
and autumn, a certain number also wintering there. This Wagtail
has occurred four times in England.

(10) White Wagtail ('Aqaili or Mislik): Matooilta alba ? subsp.
From Sulaiyil (March 15th). One specimen observed (?) at Sahma
in waterless desert. The Sulaiyil specimen was too much damaged
to make out for certain to which race of White Wagtail it belongs,
As Cheesman and Meinertzhagen met with examples of MotacUla
alba dukhunensis, the Indian White Wagtail, on passage, it very
probably belongs to that race, which breeds in Siberia.

(11) Palestine Short-toed Lark (Hamra): Calandrella brachy-
dactyla hermonensis. Specimens from Summan (near Maqainama)
and Numaila (January 23rd to 29th). Others observed. This
rufous form of the Short-toed Lark inhabits Palestine, and in K
Africa is found locally as far west as Morocco. Apparently it
wanders in winter, as specimens have been found in the Sudan and
Wyman Bury obtained two examples in the Yaman.

(12) Bifasciated Lark (Umm Sdlim): Alaemon alaudipes
doriae. Specimens from Maqainama, Hawiya, Tuwairifa,
Sa'afij and Sanam (January 25th to February 6th); and very
commonly observed throughout the journey. The Bifasciated
Lark is one of the few birds which inhabit the interior of the Rub*
al Khali. Besides Arabia, this form inhabits Sind and Baluchistan*

(13) Desert Lark (Hamrd): Ammomanes cinctura. 1 specimen
from Jafura (January 14th). Another specimen comes from
Khufaifiya in Najd (November 22nd, 1931). These Desert Larks
do not agree with any specimens in the British Museum collection,
and with further sfcu4y may perhaps turn out to be a new race.