Palestine: the physical geography and natural history of the Holy Land / By John Kitto. Illustrated with one hundred and seventy-one woodcuts, by the most eminent artists.

  • John Kitto
Date:
1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Palestine: the physical geography and natural history of the Holy Land / By John Kitto. Illustrated with one hundred and seventy-one woodcuts, by the most eminent artists. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    415/456 page 403
    The Common Roller® is distin- guished by the name of Kawts Nidges — “the beautiful im- pure,” which indicates the light in which it is regarded by the Moslems. The name is we be- lieve founded on the observation that, although carrion is not their natural food, they will resort to it in the scarcity of their proper food which winter occasions. This has been affirmed by some naturalists, and denied by others. The beauty of the bird consists in its vivid plumage. Itis also called shikrak. The Golden Oriole,» andthe . Cuckoo,° are among the winter [Osprey.—See p. ceccii.] residents of Syria, to which they come in autumn, and depart in spring. Early in April, Buckingham, travelling across the mountains from Damascus to Sidon, Pee. Eee, heard the voice of the cuckoo, loud, He ceags distinct, and clear, at the time the ground was covered with deep snow. The Arabs call it Teer-el-Yakoob, or Jacob’s Bird, from supposing him to utter the name, the Arabic sound of which, indeed, the sound closely resembles. That beautiful bird, the Wry-neck, appears and withdraws about the same time as the cuckoo, The timid Greater Spotted Woodpecker inhabits the hollow trees. There are three species of the Kingfisher,® namely, the Com- mon Kingfisher ;f the Halcyon ;$ and the Smyrna Kingfisher. The Bee- Eater,» called in Arabic Wurwar, formerly not known in England, but now an occasional visitant, appears in Syria in the spring and remains till autumn. At their first appearance they are very lean, but soon become fat, and are then reckoned delicate eating. Hasselquist saw them in the [Bee-Eater.} groves and plains between Acre and Nazareth. Volney reports that a species of Humming-Bird is found in Syria. M. J. B. Adanson met ee Ss ee ——— (SES ESS b Orivlus galbula. © Cuculus canorus. ad Yunz torquilla. he common kingfisher, although very nearly so; but as our authority (Russell) t know whether the bird be really the common species or really A. isptdia. h Merops apiaster. 3 f 2 a Coracias garrulu. © Alcedo ispidia. We are aware ‘that this is not t gives both names, we must follow him, as we canno f Alcedo halcyon. & Alcedo Smyrnensis.
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