AND LOWER EGYPT. 31J 



observing them during the period of incubation, 

 and the attention which they bestow on their 

 young. A Turk, an Egyptian would have had 

 respect to these affecting operations of nature ; an 

 European annihilated them. 



Whether these turtle-doves attach themselves 

 to the heart of cities so hospitably disposed to- 

 wards them, or whether they adorn retirements 

 more natural, they are in both without distrust, 

 and their familiarity is equally endearing. The 

 orchards of Rossetta are filled with them ; the 

 presence of man does not intimidate them, but 

 they arc more frequently heard than seen ; they 

 take delight to hide among the thick and inter- 

 laced branehes of the orange and lemon trees, and 

 seldom do they rise to the summit of the palm- 

 trees which overtop them. Their cooings declare 

 that they have chosen the most beautiful of trees 

 for the throne of their love, and that, under a 

 balmy shade, they are concealing from every eye 

 its most delicious mysteries. 



In fine, the last bird which I fell in with on my 

 expedition to the western castle of Rossetta was 

 a cheveche or screech-owl*. It differed, in- 

 cjeed, somewhat in colour from those of Europe ; 



* Cheveche ou petite choueI16. Hist. Nat. des Ois. & pi. 

 enlum. No. 439. — Strix passer ina. Lin. 



but 



