Birds uf Astrakhan. 205 



The following particulars respecting the birds of Astrakhan 

 were given mo by Henke. Many of the facts have been 

 already published, having been furnished by Henke to M. 

 Jacobleff, who wrote a paper (unfortunately in the Russian 

 language) for the ' Proceedings ' of the Moscow Natural- His- 

 tory Society in 1873. But many of Henke's later discoveries 

 are new ; and all of them will doubtless be of great interest 

 to P]nglish ornithologists. 



VULTUR PERCNOPTERUS. 



Henke never saw the Egyptian Vultur near Astrakhan ; but 

 an example was obtained at Sarepta in 1868. 



Vultur fulvus. 



Henke never met with the Griffon Vulture near Astrakhan ; 

 but, according to Eversmann, sixteen examples were seen 

 below Sarepta in 1867. This species breeds in the Caucasus 

 (,^(r/e Bogdanoff) and in the Ural Mountains {Jide Sabanaeff), 

 but appears to be only an accidental visitor to the steppes. 



Aquila chrysaetus. 



The Golden Eagle is occasionally found near Astrakhan, 

 both in summer and winter. 



Aquila imperialis. 



The western form of the Imperial Eagle is somewhat rare 

 near Astrakhan. On the delta it breeds on the willow trees; 

 but in the steppes it makes its nest on the ground. It is 

 occasionally seen in winter. 



Aquila n^via. 



The Lesser Spotted Eagle passes through the valley of the 

 Lower Volga on migration in spring and autumn. 



Aquila clanga. 



The Greater Spotted Eagle is somewhat rare on the Kir- 

 ghiz steppes east of the Volga, but is commoner on the 

 Kalmuk steppes to the west of that river. 



Aquila bifasciata. 



The Steppe-Eagle is very common on the Kirghiz steppes, 

 especially on the banks of the salt marshes, where it builds a 



