276 Lieut. R. M. Sperling on the 



13. Jay. [Garrulus glandarius.) 



The common Jay is pretty plentiful in Corfu. I shot young 

 ones, that could scarcely ^y, on the 2nd of June. 



In Syria I saw a Jay pretty commonly, which I then took to be 

 the English one, as its appearance, manners, and note exactly 

 resembled it; but, as I never shot one, I could not be certain. 

 The probability, however, is that it was the Black-headed Jay 

 (G. melanocephalus) , as I believe ovir bird is not found there. 



14. Common Starling. [Sturnus vulgaris.) 



Enormous flocks of these birds frequent Greece during the 

 winter. I never saw them anywhere but in the salt-marshes, 

 while during the summer I noticed none at all ; I am, therefore, 

 led to believe that they migrate more or less. I never observed 

 the Sardinian Starling (Sturnus unicolor). 



I saw a pretty sight once at Corfu, occasioned by a small 

 Hawk (probably a cock Sparrow-Hawk) capturing a Starling 

 out of a large flock of about two hundred. My attention was 

 first drawn to it by noticing them scattering and condensing in a 

 peculiar manner, when suddenly down came the fierce little bird 

 on them. The Starlings closed together till they assumed the 

 form of a black ball, and I believe the whole flock could have 

 been covered by a sheet ; the Hawk missed his quarry, and rose 

 again. On this the flock spread out, and tried hard to reach a 

 clump of olive-trees j but their active assailant was too much 

 for them, and after several swoops he trussed one and skimmed 

 triumphantly down wind with it, 



15. Greater Grey Shrike. (Lanius meridionalis.) 



I only observed one of these birds; it occurred in Greece, 

 and was shot by my companion. 



IG. Masked Shrike. [Lanius per sonatas. ) 

 Common in Syria in autumn. 



17. Woodchat-Shrike. [Lanius rufus.) 



Common in Malta and Corfu. In the former place its fa- 

 vourite station is on or near the top of a carob-tree, whence it 

 continually takes short flights in pursuit of insects. They are 

 brave and affectionate little birds. Ou one occasion I shot a 

 hen, which fell about fifty yards from the tree : the cock accom- 



