274 Lieut. R. M. Sperling on the 



by me like an arrow, grasped a small bird in her claws, and, after 

 soaring round the ship for some time, settled on the mast-head, 

 where she deliberately demolished her victim. She did not de- 

 part after her meal, but roosted on the ship that night ; so that 

 I was enabled to catch her as she slept. When Hawks can ob- 

 tain sustenance at sea in this manner, it would account for their 

 occasionally appearing within boundaries which are not natural 

 to them. 



6. Hen Harrier. {Falco cyaneus.) 



Common at Missolonghi and Patras, where it frequents the 

 salt-marshes and plains. In the stomach of one specimen that 

 I obtained were two lizards. 



7. Tawny Eagle. {Falco navioides.) 



In the vicinity of Jaffa and Tyre. I am not quite certain of 

 this, as never having obtained a specimen : my observations were 

 confined to birds on the wing. 



Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks are in great abundance in all 

 parts of Syria j but I have found this to be the case round all 

 the shores of the Mediterranean, Wherever there are large 

 tracts of land but little frequented, there raptorial birds con- 

 gregate, wisely ordained by nature to keep the smaller animals, 

 &c., in check, but occasionally levying taxes on kids and lambs. 

 Whilst cock-shooting on some of these plains, I have occa- 

 sionally witnessed most beautiful flights, amongst which may be 

 noticed that of a hen Sparrow-Hawk capturing a Woodcock. 



8. Short-tufted Hibou. [Strix brachyotus.) 



On going cock-shooting on the morning of November 28th 

 at Missolonghi, I found these birds very plentiful in the tufts 

 of grass in the marshes ; so I presume that a flight of them 

 had arrived from the north of Europe during the night, as that 

 was about the season for it. They were not shy, did not appear 

 at all dazzled by the daylight, and when flushed generally re- 

 settled at a distance of about one hundred yards. Montagu 

 says that this bird's luigrations in England occur at about the 

 same period as those of the Woodcock. 



9. Scops Ow^l. [Strix scups.) 



This is a very plentiful httle bird about the shores of the 



