Rev. II. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 73 



from camp. We had nothing for it but to pitch our tents for 

 the night with what heart we might, and to beat a retreat in the 

 morning. But we could spare two or three hours, and with the 

 dawn we began to look after the birds, which abound in the 

 Safieh to an extent unequalled even in the oases of Jericho. 

 " Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the Eagles be gathered 

 together," and the Ravens also ; for the sun was not above the 

 horizon when a steady stream of carrion -eaters, who had scented 

 the battle from afar, began to set in from the south. All the 

 Vultures, Kites, and Ravens of North Arabia seemed to be rush- 

 ing to the banquet. Against them we perpetrated a regular 

 battue on their way to their uncleanly feast. We brought down 

 more specimens than w^e could carry away of the three species of 

 Raven — the Common, the Brown-necked, andfour good specimens 

 of our long sought Fantail, C. affinis. The Vultures and Kites 

 sailed too high, out of reach of our shot. Had we not been 

 compelled to leave, we might doubtless have stood among the 

 trees, and, with the human bait before us, have continued our 

 warfare throughout the day. After this we never saw our new 

 friend again ; for the south end of the Dead Sea appears his 

 northern limit j nor did we ever meet with C. umbrinus north of 

 Jerusalem, not even in the upper part of the Jordan valley. 

 Neither does it ever descend to the coast, where C. corax alone 

 is found. 



After this we had no expectation of adding to our list of Pales- 

 tine Corvidce ; but six months subsequently, when on the summit 

 of Mount Hermon, we observed a party of black birds gently 

 sailing about the mountain, always keeping to the snow-line. 

 We soon ascertained that they were the Alpine Chough, Pyrrho- 

 corax alpinus, Vieill. ; for they settled near enough to allow us 

 to distinguish their bright red legs and orange bills. But they 

 were wary and restless, and never approached within gun-shot, 

 while cover or concealment there was none among the rocks and 

 snow. There seemed to be young birds among them, with bills 

 and legs less brightly coloured. Soon afterwards, while crossing 

 the Lebanon, we were more fortunate, and near one of the highest 

 passes south of Ainat we found them in considerable numbers, 

 always, however, in parties not exceeding five or six, but dis- 



