350 EXTRACTS FROM 
scorpions, with whose evil propensities we became thoroughly 
acquainted during the latter days of our journey. 
After lunch we resolved to pay a visit to the celebrated 
rock monastery of Mar-Saba. The way to it led through the 
above-mentioned narrow valley. Right and left were steep 
grassy slopes which suddenly changed their form and _ter- 
minated as the vertical rocky walls of a deep stony ravine, 
the path continuing to wind just above the precipices on the 
lowest fringe of the green slope. The walls of this dark 
dismal ravine were hollowed out below by the action of water, 
and were full of holes and clefts, in which numbers of Rock- 
Pigeons and Lesser Kestrels were peacefully breeding 
together. At every step they flew out and dashed from side 
to side of the narrow gorge in a great state of alarm. 
The rocks close to the monastery are inhabited by myriads 
of Grackles (Amydrus tristrami), a bird which I never met 
with in any other part of Palestine. All the pinnacles, ter- 
races, roofs, and rocks are literally covered with these brilliant 
blue-black birds with red-brown wings, and their pretty song 
resounds on every side. They have been so tamed by one of 
the monks that when he whistles and calls at a certain hour 
every day they come fluttering down and light at his feet, or 
even on his head and shoulders, and take the bread-crumbs 
from his hands. The wild beasts, too, are enticed to come 
here, for every evening when the bell rings for prayers the 
jackals appear in the ravine and wait until bits of bread are 
thrown down to them. 
I was much interested in this account of the jackals, and 
having got permission from the monks, I descended by steps 
and passages down to the ravine, and concealed myself 
between two large stones near an old tank. It was a most 
weird spot; in front was the bare precipice, behind me the 
rocky dwellings of the monks, and overhead only a narrow 
strip of dark blue sky. As evening came on the Grackles, 
