326 Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 



I have known the Common Heron breed close to the ground on 

 the islands of the Shannon. 



The Glossy Ibis [Falcinellus igneus), that common attendant 

 of the IleronSj vv-hich we used in Africa to compare to the black 

 sheep in a flock of white ones, appears to be very rare in Pales- 

 tine, and I only once saw it. The Spoonbill {Platalea leucorodia) 

 is equally rare, and merely a straggler. 



The White Stork [Ciconia alba) is a regular though only a 

 passing migrant. During the whole of April it covers the 

 land, suddenly appearing in the south, and moving northwards 

 a few miles a day. Thus we were told, by some travellers who 

 came up to Gennesaret, that the whole country about Samaria 

 was covered with Storks. Two days afterwards they overspread 

 our neighbourhood, not close together, but scattered over hill 

 and valley, plain and marsh alike, steadily quartering the ground, 

 seldom near one another, but generally about a hundred yards 

 apart, picking up snakes, lizards, frogs, or fish, according to the 

 locality. Just after this I had occasion to make a six days' 

 journey to the south-east. The Storks were everywhere, among 

 rocks on the hills, in oliveyards, sandy plains, on the dunghills 

 of villages, on the top of Nebo ; they remained apparently till 

 they had cleared off the reptilian harvest, and departed for the 

 north as suddenly as they came. A very few pairs here and 

 there remain to breed, notably among the ruins of Gerash and 

 Amman, perhaps also at Csesarea. They showed great confidence 

 in man, and are never molested by the natives. 



The Black Stork [Ciconia nigra) is very different in its habits. 

 It is found all through the winter in small flocks on the barren 

 plains by the Dead Sea, never visiting the upper country, I 

 was told that they build in the oak trees in Bashan, but did not 

 meet with them in my hasty ride through that country. 



Of the Scolopacidce I may say, shortly, that we obtained nearly 

 every species on the European list during the winter, but that 

 scarcely any remain to breed. The Avocet {Recurvirostra avo- 

 cetta) is a resident, but very scarce ; the Stilt [Himantopus cart' 

 didus) is not unfrequent in shallow waters, and breeds on a 

 small marshy lake in the centre of the country near Jeniu. 

 Both these remain throughout the year. Curlews we often 



