Birds by the Wayside 109 



tained a height of six to ten inches. These fields, as well 

 as the roadside, were dotted with crimson poppies of a rich 

 velvety texture. Besides the poppies there were delicately 

 tinted cyclamen, yellow flowers resembling dandelions, and 

 small blue flowers. Fertile fields and bright-colored flowers 

 made a gdadsome sight, while over them skimmed a former 

 acquaintance, the Oriental Swallow (Hirundo savignii), 

 the same species that is called by Shelley the Egyptian 

 Swallow. We had noted its southern limit at the First 

 Cataract of the Nile, 'and now we saw it near the boun- 

 dary of its northern range, according to Tristram, who 

 says it is not met with north of the Lebanon. Singly and in 

 pairs Larks were startled into the air. Some belonged to the 

 Crested Lark {Alaitda cristata), while others, no doubt, 

 would have been identified as Calandra Larks (Melanocory- 

 pha calandra) had train-stops afforded sufficient time for the 

 desired certainty. The fields of the plains are the places in 

 which it abounds in spring. Two Hawks completed the bird 

 list for that day. 



Gradually the plains gave place to the hill-country, suitable 

 for grazing only, where a few flocks of sheep and goats were 

 seen before we mounted into a wilder, more stony region and 

 passed within sight of a structure said to mark the birth- 

 place of Samson. A little farther on a hill-top was pointed 

 out as the place called Ramath-lehi by Samson. Whatever 

 shortcomings this ancient athlete displayed in his escapades 

 before his hair-cut, he evinced good judgment in two re- 

 spects : He chose for Ramath-lehi a site that would be in 

 full view of future railway trains, and in slaying there a 

 thousand men with the jaw-bone of an ass he did not muss 

 up a spot that was of any value for agricultural purposes. 



Over the half mile or more that intervened between the 

 railway station and the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem our carriages 

 were whirled along at a breakneck speed, that fixed the con- 

 viction that every driver was a descendant of Jehu, son of 

 Nimshi. That reckless teamster seems to have been the pro- 

 genitor of all drivers in the Orient from India westward. All 



