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



the reed-fen adjoining the lake of Pera Metokhi in Northern EHs. 

 This fen, with the adjacent lake, is flanked on one side by part 

 of a great oak-forest, and on the other by a forest of immense 

 pines {Pinus maritima), which cover the plain to the base of the 

 peninsular group of rocks terminating in Cape Papa. Often of 

 an evening, coming home from woodcock-shooting, when the last 

 rays of the sun were crimsoning the snows of Olonos and the 

 sharp ridge of the more distant and loftier Kiona, have I noticed 

 with admiration the evolutions of a flock of several thousands of 

 these birds hovering over this reed-fen. No drill-sergeant could 

 impart such unity of action to a given number of volunteers as 

 was displayed by this body of Stai-lings. Seen from a distance 

 in the uncertain light of evening, it seemed in shape like a comet 

 moving across the pale blue sky. Suddenly another evolution 

 is performed, and the apparent comet is resolved into its com- 

 ponent units. Again the mass contracts, and a balloon seems 

 to be floating over the reeds, which now lengthens out into a 

 huge serpent gliding through the air. The hum of many wings 

 is concentrated into a sound not unlike that of distant thunder, 

 overpowering for awhile the cries of the wild-fowl and the as 

 yet feeble croakings of the frogs. 



Crossing over the gulf once more to our old neighbourhood 

 at ^tolico, I may mention that a considerable flock of Coi'vus 

 coUaris* passed the winter of 1860 in company with an equally 

 large flock of Rooks at the foot of Mount Aracynthus. The 

 Rook is only a hybernant in Greece, rarely if ever staying to 

 breed there, but some of the Jackdaws do remain behind. 

 Those at ^Etolico during the month of February had the neck 

 and shoulder of a very light grey; white it could scarcely be 

 called. By far the gi'eater part of them go away in the .spring 

 to breed — into Albania and the North most likely : yet I was 

 assured by my servant, a trustworthy man, that the Jackdaws in 

 Corfu and Albania have the grey ring much fainter than these 

 have, and that in summer it is very slight indeed, probably 

 nothing more than the faint grey ring observable in all the Jack- 



* See Proc. Zool. Zoc. 1846, p. 43, and Capt. H. M. Drumraond's " List 

 of Birds observed to winter in Macedonia," Ann. Nat. Ilist. xviii. p. 11. — 

 Ed. 



