ENT05I0L0OY IN THE HOLY LAND. 171 



where the mountains approach the sea, to many miles where 

 they recede. Many towns and villages lie along this plain, the 

 chief of which are Gaza, Jaffa, Haifa, and Acre. 



Secondly, the central mountain chain of barren limestone, 

 rising steeply from the plain, here and there attaining a height 

 of from 2000 to 3000 ft. Tliis is made up, from north to south, 

 of the Galileean hills, the mountains of Samaria, and the 

 mountains of Judaea. The Mount Carmel range lies in a lateral 

 direction, approaching the sea westward of Haifa. Upon the 

 central range are situated the towns of Safed, Nazareth, Samaria, 

 Nablus, Jerusalem and Hebron. Southward from Hebron the 

 mountains sink into the plains around Beersheba. 



Thirdly, the Jordan Valley, a stupendous and unique " fault " 

 in the earth's crust. This includes the upper and lower Jordan, 

 the Dead Sea. and the Sea of Galilee, Tiberias, and Jericho. 



Although the average annual rainfall over a large part of 

 Palestine is as great as that of London, the country suffers from 

 want of water in summer. The whole of the rainfall occurs 

 between November and April. During the summer months a 

 majority of the inhabitants and their domestic animals depend 

 upon supplies of rain-water collected in catchment tanks. 



The winter months, although very wet, are usually mild along 

 the coast, the thermometer seldom falling to freezing-point. In 

 some years there may be a considerable snowfall on the higher 

 parts of the mountain ranges. There are frequent and terrific 

 gales, alternating with tremendous storms and downpour. 



The spring commences fitfully in January or February, and 

 for three months the country is a land of flowers, of wonderful 

 abundance and variety. 



COLEOPTEEA. 



At the commencement of the wet season, when the first 

 autumn crocuses and dwarf cyclamen peep forth, and the 

 parched country begins to look green once more, the mountain 

 slopes form an ideal hunting-ground for beetles. Hundreds may 

 be found in an hour or so by turning over loose stones and rocks. 



Adults of Carabus punctulatus, Bon., were plentiful in 

 November and December. Early in January several larvae 

 were found. These were kept in a tin half filled with earth, 

 and supplied with slugs. These molluscs were readily attacked 

 by the larvae. Usually the first thing that happened was the 

 decapitation of the slug by a few powerful strokes of the strong 

 jaws. The body was then slit open along the side, and the 

 juicy contents eaten. Apparently the skin is too nasty, even 

 for these permanently hungry larvae, as it was generally avoided, 

 and left to shrivel up. On more than one occasion several 

 slugs were eaten in quick succession by the same larva, and 

 •one day a large larva completely devoured an earthworm about 



