Ornithology of the Crimea 8^c. 231 



near St. George's Monastery was a great resort for them. Plen- 

 tiful as they were, it so happened that I was never able to secure 

 a specimen. I also saw them at Koslou. In Constantinople 

 they are common, and may be seen any summer's day wheeling 

 round the Galata tower. Nightjars [Caprimulgus europceus) 

 were common in suitable localities about the camp. One day 

 I was out on the Inkerman battle-field, when one of these birds 

 rose from under a bush. I was about to pull the trigger, when 

 a Zouave, whom I had not seen, jumped up in a line with the 

 bird ; I just managed to miss both of them, the former not 

 without difficulty. 



Turtledoves [Turtur auritus) were common in the Crimea. 

 I saw them in flocks between the camp and the trenches. 

 Doves, probably T. risorius, as well, are also abundant in Con- 

 stantinople, frequenting the forests of cypress trees which cover 

 the Turkish cemeteries. I heard of Rock-Doves being in quan- 

 tities along the cliffs near Balaklava, but I do not remem- 

 ber seeing any. There are Domestic Pigeons in enormous 

 quantities at one of the mosques in Stamboul, the name of 

 which I now forget. When food is thrown for them, they 

 descend in such dense masses that I have seen them two or 

 three deep in their eagerness to obtain it. 



Pheasants [P. colchicus) I never saw wild; but one day I 

 met a man walking down the Grande Rue de Pera with a live 

 Pheasant in a trap under each arm. They were frequent items 

 in the bill of fare at Misserie's Hotel, and were no doubt caught 

 at no great distance. I take this opportunity of saying that the 

 market of Constantinople, or, more properly speaking, Pera, the 

 Frank quarter, is well supplied with game. I have seen Wild 

 Boars, Roe-Deer, Hares, Bustards of both kinds. Pheasants, 

 Red-legged Partridges, Woodcocks, Snipes, Bitterns, Pintails, 

 Shovellers, and various wildfowl. Fish are also abundant; 1 

 noted Mussels, Oysters, Crawfish, Lobsters, Mullet, Swordfish, 

 Mackerel, Turbot, and large and most brilliantly coloured 

 Gurnards. 



I remember seeing a bird (I believe it to have been a Fran- 

 colin) which had been shot in the .spring of 1854 by an officer 

 of the Guards, then encamped near Scutari. It was of the 



