Ornithology of the Mediterranean. 273 



by the haughty Turk^ — or^ in fact, start for a hohday and " do " 

 what you like, not forgetting the Sand-Grouse on the plain of 

 Baalbec ; and, depend upon it, there will be deeper and nobler 

 impressions left on the mind than are to be gathered in a trip 

 to Norway or the Highlands. The ruins of Baalbec are a full- 

 fledged epic poem in themselves. 



It is hoped that the following list of birds may prove in- 

 teresting to lovers of natural history. I do not presume to 

 suppose that much novelty Mall be found in anything relating 

 to such a well-known tract ; but even should such not be the 

 case, confirmation of facts (especially as regards the geographical 

 range of birds) may be found, while anything relating to a part 

 of the world so near England, and possessing a fauna so nearly 

 similar, will probably prove acceptable. It was compiled between 

 April 1862 and June 1863. I have taken nothing for granted, 

 and I don^t think there is a bird in it that I have not shot 

 myself, or seen shot by a companion, while there are none that 

 I have not had in my possession ; and I can only hope that its 

 perusal may prove as interesting to your readers as the task of 

 collecting the materials has been to myself. 



I have adopted the classification lately published by Dr. Brce 

 in his ' Birds of Europe not observed in the British Isles,' as 

 being the simplest. 



1. Peregrine Falcon. [Falco j^eregrinus.) 



Pretty plentiful on the south shore of the Gulf of Arta. 



2. Kestrel. [Falco tinnunculus.) 



Common round the northern and eastern shores, and at 

 Rhodes. 



3. Lesser Kestrel. {Falco tinnunculoides.) 



Not quite so plentiful, I think, as its congener; they were, 

 however, pretty common in Malta in the middle of April. 



4. Red-legged Falcon. {Falco vespertinus.) 



Flew on board the vessel at sea, when close to the south shore 

 of the island of Malta. 



5. Sparrow-Hawk. {Falco nisus.) 



At sea, between Malta and Corfu, a hen Sparrow-Hawk dashed 



