Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 71 
between a croak and a caw, loud and ringing. The sexes do not 
differ in size. I subjoin the measurements— 
C. umbrinus. 
C. corax 
(Palestine). 
C. corax 
(Algeria). 
C. affinis. 
Total length ... 
inches. 
inches. 
inches. 
inches. 
. 22- 
24* 
23- 
*19- 
Wing from car¬ 
pal joint. 
| 17- 
17*25 
16- 
15-25 
Length of tail . .. 
. 10* 
10-5 
9-75 
6-5 
Beak from gape . 
Diameter of beak | 
2*75 
1 
3-125 
1-25 
2-75 
1-125 
2- 
1-125 
at base.. | 
[ x ' 
Circumference of j 
beak at base . . j 
' 2-875 
4- 
3-375 
2-375 
Length of tarsus . 
*. 2-5 
2-625 
2-375 
2-25 
Length of middle | 
toe. 
1 2-5 
2-875 
2-25 
2-375 
While in Corvus corax the wing does not reach the end of the 
tail by an inch or an inch and a half, in C. umbrinus it equals 
the tail, and in C. affinis exceeds it by an inch. In the last- 
named species the secondary coverts are of an extraordinary 
length. 
One evening in January we were encamped at the foot of the 
ancient fortress of Masada, the modern Sebbeh, with a waterless, 
lifeless wilderness of salt-hills stretching in labyrinth!c confusion 
for two miles to the sea. It was a scene of stern grandeur and 
magnificent desolation, perhaps unequalled in the world. Yet 
even here were birds. We had made a Banner surrender the 
remains of a Pochard he was conveying to the mountains from the 
lake, when we observed three Ravens making towards us from 
the sea. They were the only signs of life under that canopy of 
wondrous brilliancy and depth. They too seemed startled and 
surprised when they descried our camp on that untrodden shore, 
and, curiosity mastering caution, wheeled and wheeled again 
over and over our heads. But long before they came near we 
detected an unknown species. Two of them were unmistakeably 
C. umbrinus ; the third was strangely different. Its flight was 
very different; it rather sailed than flew, and the motion of its 
wings was scarcely perceptible. But more marked than all 
was the contrast of its outline, as shown in the annexed 
/r;/ 
mu 
* Or to end of wing 20 inches. 
