Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 73 
from camp. We had nothing for it but to pitch our tents for 
the night with what heart we might, and to beat a retreat in the 
morning. But we could spare two or three hours, and with the 
dawn we began to look after the birds, which abound in the 
Safieh to an extent unequalled even in the oases of Jericho. 
“ Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the Eagles be gathered 
together,” and the Ravens also; for the sun was not above the 
horizon when a steady stream of carrion-eaters, who had scented 
the battle from afar, began to set in from the south. All the 
Vultures, Kites, and Ravens of North Arabia seemed to be rush¬ 
ing to the banquet. Against them we perpetrated a regular 
battue on their way to their uncleanly feast. We brought down 
more specimens than we could carry away of the three species of 
Raven—the Common, the Brown-necked, andfourgood specimens 
of our long sought Eantail, C. affinis . The Vultures and Kites 
sailed too high, out of reach of our shot. Had we not been 
compelled to leave, we might doubtless have stood among the 
trees, and, with the human bait before us, have continued our 
warfare throughout the day. After this we never saw our new 
friend again ; for the south end of the Dead Sea appears his 
northern limit; nor did we ever meet with C. umbrinus north of 
Jerusalem, not even in the upper part of the Jordan valley. 
Neither does it ever descend to the coast, where C. corax alone 
is found. 
After this we had no expectation of adding to our list of Pales¬ 
tine Corvidae; but six months subsequently, when on the summit 
of Mount Herrnon, we observed a party of black birds gently 
sailing about the mountain, always keeping to the snow-line. 
We soon ascertained that they were the Alpine Chough, Pyrrho - 
corax alpinus , Vieill.; for they settled near enough to allow us 
to distinguish their bright red legs and orange bills. But they 
were wary and restless, and never approached within gun-shot, 
while cover or concealment there was none among the rocks and 
snow. There seemed to be young birds among them, with bills 
and legs less brightly coloured. Soon afterwards, while crossing 
the Lebanon, we were more fortunate, and near one of the highest 
passes south of Ainat we found them in considerable numbers, 
always, however, in parties not exceeding five or six, but dis- 
