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Show 1881.] ON BIRDS FROM SOCOTRA AND S. ARABIA. 953 5. On the Birds collected in Socotra and Southern Arabia by Dr. Emil Riebeck. By Dr. G-. HARTLAUB, F.M.Z.S. [Received November 4, 1881.] (Plate LXXII.) The birds to which I invite attention were collected during to the island of Socotra and to Southern Arabia in April last. In the former place Dr. Riebeck was accompanied by the celebrated African traveller Dr. Schweinfurth. The Socotran collection contains 42 specimens, referable to 20 species:- Passeres 10 species. Picariae 1 „ Herodio es 1 ,, Anseres 1 „ Columbse 3 „ Limicolse 3 „ Gaviae 1 ,, In it there are 7 species not obtained by Prof. Balfour, including a fine novelty. These species are :- 1. Rhynchostruthus rieBecki, n. sp. 2. CEna capensis. ] 3. Ardea purpurea. 4. Totanus glareola. 5. Fuligula nyroca. 6. Phalacrocorax lucidus. 7. Gallinula chloropus. Dr. Schweinfurth writes me the following notes on the Socotran localities mentioned by Dr. Riebeck on his labels :- " In Socotra we were only on the north coast; and besides the immediate environs of Golonsir and a short excursion made by Dr. Riebeck to the west of Tamarida, we explored only the country about this latter place and the central granite mountains. " Our longest stay we made in a mountain-valley ' Wadi Dilal' (or Digal), and at a place called ' Keregnigi,' which abounds with boulders of grey granite and caverns. " Gebel Firi is the name of one of the numerous granitic peaks of the Haygier. " The uppermost part of Wadi Dilal is named Rischen. The country to the south of this place (above 900 metres) is situated on the northern slope of the central granitic mountains to the S.E. of Tamarida. " Dr. Riebeck collected many birds in the plains to the east and S.E. of Tamarida, upon the rivulet conducting to the Belled el Schech, and others on the rivulet which opens near Tamarida." |