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Show 818 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON SINAITIC SPIDERS. [Dec. 6, Uniform dull blue, in a certain light with a faint shadow of greenish blue ; the base of the feathers blackish, giving a somewhat mottled appearance, especially on the head; lores blackish; underparts somewhat lighter blue than the back ; the feathers on the vent with very indistinct whitish bars ; remiges brownish black ; primaries with narrow, secondaries with broad margins of dull blue along the outer webs; under wing-coverts pale isabelline ; upper tail-coverts dirty brownish; tail-feathers blackish brown, narrowly margined externally with greyish brown. Bill hornish yellow tipped with blackish ; on the gape a naked oval caruncle, also yellow, with two blue verrucae; legs and feet pale brownish. Long. rostr. alt. rost. tot. long. al. caud. a fr. rictus, a bas. tars. dig. med. ung. 3|" 2" 3"' 12"' 5'" 5'" 3f" 8'" 5-J'" 2\"' The unique specimen described above was preserved in spirits, and is evidently a young bird. The coloration of the old bird may very probably differ a good deal, as is the case between old and young specimens of both species of Amblyura. Analogously to tbe latter, it might be suspected that the dirty brownish tinge on the upper tail-coverts would change to red. Unfortunately no notice is given of the habits, or the colours of the naked parts alive. The stomach contained small seeds and grains. 3. Notes on a Collection of Arachnida made by J. K . Lord, Esq., in the Peninsula of Sinai and on the African borders of the R e d Sea. B y the Rev. O . P. C A M B R I D G E , M.A., C.M.Z.S. (Plate L.) The above collection contained two species of Scorpionidea (upon the specific identity of which I am unable at present to offer any reliable opinion), two species of Solpugidea, and nineteen species of Araneidea. The Scorpions belong, I believe, to the genera Telegonus and Androctonus (Koch); the Solpugidea were the Solpuga araneoides (Oliv.) and the Solpuga melana (Savign.) (Rhax melana, Koch). Of the former there were several examples, captured in the Wady Ferran, peninsula of Sinai; it is an abundant species in Upper Egypt, as well as in the plains of the Jordan, lurking by day under the stones and among the debris of old ruins, and at night running abroad with great activity and swiftness: of tbe latter species (S. melana) there was but one example, captured also in the Wady Ferran ; its dark colour and short legs serve to distinguish it readily from the former. Both are described and figured by Savigny in his great work (Egypte, Arachnides, pl. 8. figs. 7-9). The following is a list of the Araneidea, which comprised three |
