138 FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE, 



343. Larus ftisnis. Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 225. Lesser Black- 

 backed GuIL 



This Gull is very common on the coast, on the Lake of Galilee, in the 

 Southern Desert, and on the uplands of Moab. In the latter localities 

 it feeds on the desert snails. 



Its range, according to the season, is through Europe, North Africa, 

 and Asia down to the South China coast. 



ORDER. TUBINARES. 



FAMILY, PROCELLARIID.'E. 



344. Piiffimis aiiglontni. Temm. Man. d'Orn. ii., p. 806. Manx 

 Shearwater. 



I picked up a specimen in a fresh state, after a gale in winter, under 

 Mount Carmel. 



It is an inhabitant of the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. 



ORDER, PYGOPODES. 



FAMILY, PODICIPID.-E. 



345. Podiceps cristatus. (Linn, Syst. Nat. i., p. 222.) Great Crested 

 Grebe. Arab., ^_;--Ja£>, Glmtfs {generic). 



All through the winter and spring, to the middle of April, the placid 

 surface of the Lake of Galilee is dotted over from end to end by Grebes 

 in amazing numbers. They begin to assume the breeding plumage by 

 the end of February, but I could not ascertain that there were any nests 

 in the neighbourhood of the lake ; in fact, there is no cover for them. 

 As I found them swarming on Huleh in May, they probably retire thither 

 for safe quarters. In winter the Grebe goes as far as the south end of 

 the Dead Sea. 



The Great Crested Grebe inhabits Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and 

 New Zealand ; but in the tropics it is very scarce. 



