380 Mr. W. H. Simpson on some of the Birds 



ture having been seen in these parts, it has been most probably 

 an immature specimen of Gypaetus harhatus : the difference in 

 shape might not be observed at a distance. 



The Kites are remarkable chiefly for their absence. Of Milvus 

 regalis I noticed a single specimen, apparently on passage, near 

 Angelo Castro, towards the end of February ; but never one of 

 M. ater. This is the more surprising, as the latter species is 

 of frequent occurrence in Turkey, especially on the Bosphorus, 

 where it is the hawk most commonly seen in spring and summer, 

 ever sailing in groups of three and four over the ships in the 

 harbour of Constantinople. Indeed, a rookeiy of them (if such 

 a term be applicable) is reported to exist in some of the trees of 

 the old town. Another raptorial bird remarkable for its scarce- 

 ness is Circaetus gallicus. It is said by Von der Miihle to be 

 extremely common during summer in Greece, i. e. in Eastern 

 Greece, with which he was best acquainted. This is perhaps the 

 most reptile-eating of all the birds of prey. Its place is supplied 

 by the Spotted Eagle, so numerous in this district. The only 

 Circaetus I ever saw in Western Greece was in the lower valley 

 of the Alpheus. Not far from the same spot, and hard by the 

 ruins of Olympia, I also came across the only colony of Falco 

 vespertinus seen during our tour. There were four pairs, very 

 tame, and evidently quite at home in the park-like trees with 

 which that beautiful valley abounds. Diligent search was made 

 for their nests (this was before the middle of May); but the 

 natives assured us that, although the birds spent the whole winter 

 and spring there, they never bred, and that those which we then 

 saw would go away directly. 



Towards the middle of ]\Iarch the Little Kestrel {Falco cenchris) 

 begins to arrive, and presently takes up its abode, often in con- 

 siderable numbers, in the villages and ruins upon the plains. 

 Whilst the Common Kestrel, which occurs all the year round, 

 dwells in the rocks and remoter ruins, breeding generally in 

 single pairs, this species prefers more inhabited places, and, like 

 the Swallow, trusts to mankind. In Eastern Greece, one of its 

 favourite localities is the renowned ruin which crowns the Acro- 

 polis Rock at Athens. There, in company with the "Bird of 

 Minerva" {Athene noctua), it finds a secure retreat in the remains 



