Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 77 
which I saw, and three of which are now before me, not one 
had any mud in its composition; and in the case to which I have 
referred, the Swifts had added a nest, not of mud, but of agglu¬ 
tinated straw and feathers, to the original structure of the Swal¬ 
lows. All our Swifts 5 nests were remarkably light, though 
those built outside caves were stronger and stouter than those 
within. May not the Indian bird very commonly adapt the 
labours of other species to its own purposes, and have thus caused 
Adams and Layard to speak of its nest as of mud and solid ? 
Theobald 5 s description exactly corresponds with our own expe¬ 
rience of the constructions of the Palestine bird. 
Cypselus melba, though very abundant in localities, is rather a 
local bird in the Holy Land. Unlike its little congener, it is 
only a summer migrant, but returns earlier than the common 
Swift, C. apus. The first time we noticed it was at daybreak 
on February 12th, when, camped outside the walls of Jerusalem, 
we saw large flocks passing with amazing rapidity, at a great 
height, towards the north. A few days afterwards we noticed 
several of these birds among the hills of Benjamin, disporting 
themselves and often descending near the ground. They were 
probably preparing to breed in some of the deep ravines which 
run down towards the Jordan. From that time, throughout 
the summer, we rarely lost sight for many days together of this 
noble bird. The Wady Hamam, opening into the plain of 
Gennesaret, was a favourite resort of large flocks, which bred in 
fissures of the stupendous cliffs, hopelessly beyond the reach of 
the most ardent rock-climber and nester. From their habit of 
selecting chinks under the overhanging ledges, it was impossible, 
even by the aid of ropes, to reach their holes; and could they 
have been attained, the pick and chisel must have been applied 
indefatigably to reach many of the nests. About daybreak they 
might be seen dashing in long lines with lightning speed down 
the ravine, and exercising themselves over the plain. At this 
time in the morning we were able occasionally to secure a spe¬ 
cimen; but very soon they began to rise higher and higher, 
mingled with numbers of the two other species, till in the depth 
of that dark, blue cloudless sky they were at last lost even to 
the keenest sight. Towards evening they began again to de- 
