Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 81 
to it as faithfully as a Robin Redbreast to its domain in an 
English garden. Neither in summer nor winter does it shun the 
neighbourhood of man. In Palestine it prefers the woods, but 
watered gardens like those of Nablous or Tyre are particularly 
attractive; and the veneration with which it is regarded by the 
Mussulman secures it from molestation, unless from the uncir¬ 
cumcised cats. It is very scarce in the Ghor, becoming more 
abundant in the neighbourhood of Tabor and Carmel than fur¬ 
ther south, and not ascending very high in the Lebanon range. 
Whole volumes have been written by Arab scribes on the medi¬ 
cinal virtues of the Hoopoe, or ‘ hudhud-, 9 and it is universally 
held by the Bedouins to be inhabited by the spirits of the 
departed. 
Eorskal remarks that the Hoopoe is found only on its passage 
in spring and autumn at Constantinople; and in Syria also a 
large proportion of those which arrive disappear after refreshing 
themselves for a few days. I do not know of any bird so easily 
amenable to shot as the Hoopoe. A stray pellet striking it in 
by no means a vital part will bring it down at once; and at 
the same time, as all collectors know, it is the most tender of 
European birds to skin. We did not ourselves find the nest in 
Syria; but I have seen eggs taken there by others. 
The Bee-eater (Merops apiaster ) and the Roller ( Coracias gar - 
rula) reappeared simultaneously, but, unlike the Hoopoe, in large 
flocks, which very gradually dispersed in the case of the Roller, 
while the Bee-eaters remain more or less gregarious throughout 
the summer. The first time we obtained specimens of either was 
on the 4th of April, in the plain of Bethshean, to the east of 
Mount Tabor. On the 12th of April I reached Ain Sultan 
(Jericho) alone, and remained there in solitude for several days, 
during which I had many opportunities of observing the gro¬ 
tesque habits of the Roller. For several successive evenings 
great flocks of Rollers mustered shortly before sunset on some 
dom trees near the fountain, with all the noise, but without the 
decorum, of rooks. After a volley of discordant screams, from 
the sound of which it derives its Arabic trivial name of 
te schurkrak,” a few of the birds would start from their 
perch, and commence a series of somersaults overhead, some- 
N. S.-VOL. II. 
G 
