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, 



