Ar£S. 89 



found large colonies, both by themselves, and also, as at Jerabulus 

 (Carchemish), in company with a great rookery of the Common Bee-eater, 

 burrowing and nesting in the same bank ; but the two species always 

 hunted separately, the Persian bird generally skimming closer to the 

 ground, of weaker flight, and often alighting on a thistle-tuft or flower- 

 stalk. 



It ranges down the West Coast of Africa and up to Natal ; is very 

 abundant in Egypt, rare in Algeria, extends eastward to India, but is 

 only an accidental visitor to Europe. 



176. Merops viridis. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 180. Green Bee-Eater. 

 Not common, and apparently only on passage. 



It is a native of Egypt and Abyssinia, is recorded from West Africa, 

 and inhabits Persia, India, Ceylon, and Burmah. 



FAMILY, UPUPIDtE. 



177. Upjtpa epops. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 183. Hoopoe. Hebr. 

 riS'DII. A. v., ' Lapwing,' in error. Arab. ^^fy\Si, Hudhud (imm its cry). 



The Hoopoe, which leaves Palestine in winter, returns in the beo-in- 

 ning of March ; not seen in flocks, but suddenly spread over the whole 

 country in pairs or in small parties. It resorts alike to the desert wadys, 

 the woods, gardens, and villages, where it is very tame, feeding on dung- 

 hills, indifferent to the presence of man. It does not appear to migrate 

 far, as it remains all winter in Egypt and in the oases of the Sahara. 



The Hoopoe is found in Southern and Central Europe, the whole of 

 Asia, and Northern and Central Africa. 



FAMILY, CUCULID.^. 



178. Cuculus canoriis. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 168. Cuckoo. Hebr. 

 (doubtfully) P|n^. Arabic <^yo, Tckook. 



The Cuckoo returns to Palestine at the end of March or beginning of 

 April, when it is particularly obnoxious to the Bush Babbler {Crateropus 

 chalybeus), which clamorously pursues it in the Jordan valley. It is 

 spread generally over the whole country. 



The Cuckoo has a very extensive range — through all Europe and 



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