Rev. H. B.Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine, 81 



to it as faithfully as a Robin Redbreast to its domain in an 

 English garden. Neither in summer nor winter does it shun the 

 neighbourhood of man. In Palestine it prefers the woods, but 

 watered gardens like those of Nablous or Tyre are particularly 

 attractive ; and the veneration with which it is regarded by the 

 Mussulman secures it from molestation, unless from the uncir- 

 cumcised cats. It is very scarce in the Ghor, becoming more 

 abundant in the neighbourhood of Tabor and Carmel than fur- 

 ther south, and not ascending very high in the Lebanon range. 

 Whole volumes have been written by Arab scribes on the medi- 

 cinal virtues of the Hoopoe, or 'hudhud; ' and it is universally 

 held by the Bedouins to be inhabited by the spirits of the 

 departed. 



Forskal remarks that the Hoopoe is found only on its passage 

 in spring and autumn at Constantinople ; and in Syria also a 

 large proportion of those which arrive disappear after refreshing 

 themselves for a few days. I do not know of any bird so easily 

 amenable to shot as the Hoopoe. A stray pellet striking it in 

 by no means a vital part will bring it down at once ; and at 

 the same time, as all collectors know, it is the most tender of 

 European birds to skin. We did not ourselves find the nest in 

 Syria ; but I have seen eggs taken there by others. 



The Bee-eater [Merops apiaster) and the Roller {Coracias gar- 

 rula) reappeared simultaneously, but, unlike the Hoopoe, in large 

 flocks, which very gradually dispersed in the case of the Roller, 

 while the Bee-eaters remain more or less gregarious throughout 

 the summer. The first time we obtained specimens of either was 

 on the 4th of April, in the plain of Bcthshean, to the east of 

 Mount Tabor. On the 12th of April I reached Ain Sultan 

 (Jericho) alone, and remained there in solitude for several days, 

 during which I had many opportunities of observing the gro- 

 tesque habits of the Roller. For several successive evenings 

 great flocks of Rollers mustered shortly before sunset on some 

 dSm trees near the fountain, with all the noise, but without the 

 decorum, of rooks. After a volley of discordant screams, from 

 the sound of which it derives its Arabic trivial name of 

 " schurkrak,'^ ^/J^ a few of the birds would start from their 

 perch, and commence a series of somersaults overhead, some- 



N. S. VOL. n. G 



