20 FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



the character of the country. The old rock-hewn tombs and innumerable 

 caves afford it convenient covert. Its wail may always be heard after 

 nightfall. It attacks graves, and burrows into them, even in the close 

 vicinity of towns. It is mentioned once in Scripture, but translated 

 'speckled bird' (Jer. xii. 9). The Hyaena is common through the whole 

 of Africa from south to north, and through Southern Asia, being very 

 abundant in India. 



FAMILY, VIVERRID.^. 



76. Gennetta vulgaris. G.R.Gray. P. Z. S. 1832, p. 63. i^—Viverra 

 gennctla. L.) The Genet. Arab. ,j~.U™J, Nisnas. 



The Genet, well known from Spain and North Africa, is not unfre- 

 quent in Palestine. I saw it several times, and procured it on Mount 

 Carmel. 



Its occurrence is one of the many instances of the extension of the 

 African Fauna into Syria ; for though found in South Europe and along 

 the whole Barbary coast from Tangiers to Egypt, this is the only recorded 

 instance of its existence in Asia. 



']']. Herpcstes ichiicuinon. (Fischer. Sym. Mamm., p. 163.) The 

 Ichneumon. Arab. ^s^^^. ^£')'di. 



The Ichneumon is found among the scrub on the borders of all the 

 cultivated plains, living in the rocks. It is very common. It was scarcely 

 possible to take a walk at sunrise in any part of the country without 

 meeting this little animal trotting away to its hole. Its range extends 

 through North Africa. In Asia, excepting in Syria, its place is taken 

 by representative species. 



FAMILY, CANID.'E. 

 78. Canis lupus. L. Syst. Nat. i., p. 58. Wolf. Heb. ^IXT. Arab. 



<__-;J, Dt'Cl). 



The Wolf is still common in Palestine, but from the nature of the 

 country and the scarcity of cover or woods, its habits are very different 



