on Birds observed in Soutlum Palestine. 25 



12. Hypotriokchis subbuteo. 



Several Hobbies were seen, and one shot, in the wooded dis- 

 trict not far from Ladrone, near the ancient Bethoron. 



13. Hypotriokchis ELEoxoRi. 



Though not noticed bv me in the country itself, a very fine 

 specimen, in the rich brown-black plumage of the adult, perched 

 one afternoon on the mast-head of our yacht, not far from the 

 coast. A general gun-cleaning was, fortunately for his life, 

 going on at the moment, and he winged his way just as a piece 

 had at length been put together. In the evening, about two 

 hours afterwards, he returned, at least I presume it was the 

 same, but only paused for a few minutes in the fore-rigging, 

 when he went off towards land. 



14. TlNNUNCULUS ALAUDARIUS. 



Universally distributed and extremely abundant. Large 

 colonies breed in ruined towers in company with the succeedmg 

 species. 



15. TiNXUXCULrs cexchris. 



Gregarious about the ruins in the plain districts. About 

 fifteen or twenty pairs were building their nests in and about the 

 beautiful tower of Ramleh {Arimathea) in company with a still 

 larger number of the common Kestrel, and flew screaming 

 round me, as I climbed the still perfect staircase of the tower. 

 It was interesting to watch them in the evening sweeping like 

 swallows over the fields, or threading their way up and down 

 the lanes fenced vrith prickly pear, in pursuit of the Scarabm on 

 which thev were feeding, seizing them with their claws on the 

 wing, and as they sailed by me. picking off with their beaks the 

 elytra of their prey, and dropping them almost at my feet. 

 Though 1 have never found the lesser Kestrel either in Asia or 

 Africa except in company with the common species, yet it 

 seems to be without the power of adaptation possessed by its 

 congener, confining itself to old towers and rocks, and living 

 always in communities more or less numerous. I obtained 

 some beautiful specimens at Ramleh. There is a still larger 

 colony about the old ruined Enghsh church of Lydda, over the 

 reputed tomb of '' St. George of merrie England." 



