AVES. 77 



and wary. There is a large colony in the ravines of the Zerka Main or 

 Callirrhoe. 



It has a rich musical note, and stately flight. 



Palestine is its only known habitat out of Africa, but it will surely be 

 found in the Sinaitic Peninsula. In Africa it appears to be confined to 

 Abyssinia and Kordofan, thus giving another instance of the connec- 

 tion between the Jordan and Abyssinian Faunas. 



146. Corvus corax. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 155. The Raven. 

 Hebn, 31157. Arab., c^l^£>, 'Orab. 



The Raven is common in every part of the country, altitude or 

 character of region being quite indifferent. In winter it is gregarious 

 about the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem, consorting by the hundred with 

 the Brown-necked Raven, Hooded Crow, Jackdaw and Rook, all five 

 species roosting together. 



The Raven is found through the whole of Europe, Northern Asia, 

 down to the Indian frontier, and across the whole of North America. 



In Barbary it is replaced by a very closely allied species, C. tingitmuts. 



147. Corvus umbrifius. Hedenb. Sund. K. Vet. Ak. Handl. 1838, 

 p. 1 98. Brown-necked Raven. 



This is the common Raven of Jerusalem and the Jordan valley, but 

 not of the coast or maritime plains, and only rarely seen north of Jerusalem. 

 It is gregarious in winter, but breeds solitarily in cliffs. Its note is very 

 different from that of any other species. 



The Brown-necked Raven is a native of North-east Africa, but 

 ranges as far as Baluchistan, being, however, very rare east of the Holy 

 Land. 



FAMILY, ALAUDID.'E. 



148. Certhilaudaalaudipcs. (Desf. Mem. Acad. Roy., 1787, p. 504.) 

 The Desert Long-billed Lark. 



This largest and most beautiful of the Lark tribe is not uncommon in 

 the desert regions south of Judaea and east of Moab and Gilead, in both 

 which districts I have frequently met with it. 



