410 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, ^c. 



Magpie, the slender shape and habit of jerking its tail perhaps 

 contributing to give it this likeness. 



Before I close this list of reminiscences, I must mention that I 

 saw my first Swallow {Hirundo urhica), this year, on March 19th, 

 since which date they have become very abundant. I also saw 

 a Hoopoe on March 9th, thus proving its title to be called a 

 " March fowl.^' Yours &c., J. Traherne Moggridge. 



15 St. James's Square, London, 

 May 1st, 1864. 



Sir, — I am able, from my own observation, to add the Collared 

 Turtle [Turtur risorius) to the list of European birds (in which, I 

 see, it is not included by Professor Blasius), having met with it at 

 Constantinople last April. My first introduction to this species 

 took place at Smyrna, where I stayed a few days en route from 

 Egypt to Constantinople. I there found these Doves in consi- 

 derable numbers afnong the cypress-trees growing in the Turkish 

 cemeteries in the vicinity of the city. I was certainly rather sur- 

 prised at meeting with a bird of strong flight and wide geogra- 

 phical range, like a Turtle Dove, of a species hitherto excluded 

 from the European list, at Smyrna, so near the political rather 

 than geographical boimdary which divides the Greek from the 

 Asiatic islands. On arriving at Constantinople, I again met 

 with a few pairs of my friends, Turtur risorius, among the cypress 

 trees of the seraglio-gardens in Stamboul. Thus I consider 

 that this species is fully entitled to a place in the list of Euro- 

 pean birds. 



I do not think it would be possible for any accurate 

 observer to mistake either Turtur auritus or T. agyptiacus for 

 this species, as Mr. C. A. Wright suggests (Ibis, 1864, p. 139) 

 Mr. E. Newton did ; neither can I agree with Mr. Wright that 

 Turtur risorius does not usually appear so far north as the 

 Mediterranean, since at least half the area of that sea lies below 

 the meridian of Smyrna, at which place I ascertained that T. 

 risorius is a regular visitant. I have no doubt that this species 

 is the parent stock from which those pale isabel-coloured Doves 

 with a black collar, so commonly kept in cages, are derived. 



I am, Sir, yours &c., E. Cavendish Taylor. 



