FROM THE EAST. 519 



62. COTYLE RUPESTRIS. Crag-Swallow. 



Very common throughout Egypt and Palestine in suitable 

 localities, such as cliffs and even large masses of rock in the 

 mountains of the desert. Where there are no rocks it con- 

 tents itself with ruins and buildings, the pyramids of Gizeh 

 for example. 



63. UPUPA EPOPS. Hoopoe. 



Throughout Egypt one of the commonest and tamest birds, 

 both in the towns and the cultivated country. Less abun- 

 dant in Palestine, where localities suited to it are much 

 rarer. 



64. COLUMBA LIVIA. Rock-Dove. 



Common throughout Egypt and Palestine, wherever high 

 cliffs with holes in them offer it suitable dwelling-places. In 

 Egypt, however, incredible numbers of semi-wild Rock-Doves 

 are generally found crowded together in little towns of dove- 

 cots, which are specially built for them for the sake of their 

 eggs, but chiefly for their guano. These birds, nevertheless, 

 never change either in size or colour. 



65. TURTUR AURITUS. Common Turtle-Dove. 



Isolated specimens were seen, but only in the valley of the 

 Jordan. 



66. TURTUR ORIENTALIS. Asiatic Turtle-Dove. 



Only found in the low trees and bushy tracts of the valley 

 of the Jordan, but there in great numbers. These birds had 

 already paired, and the males were executing their aerial 

 evolutions more skilfully than any pigeons I have ever seen. 

 Their peculiar call resounded all day long, and they were, on 

 the whole, very shy and wary. 



