236 Mr. G. C. Taylor on the Ornithology of the Crimea ^c. 



doubt the quantity of fish which frequent the shallow water; and 

 on this and the other spits in this sea were establishments for 

 the catching and curing of fish for the supply of the Russian 

 troops. These establishments consisted of huts built of lath 

 and reedsj boats, heaps of nets and other implements of the 

 craft, together with quantities of fish already cured, and hanging 

 on scaffolding to dry in the sun. All these we proceeded to fire 

 and destroy; and a tremendous blaze they made. The sailors 

 then commenced shooting pigs and fowls, firing their muskets in 

 the most reckless way, to the imminent danger of all around. 



The fish were of small size and very bony. We brought some 

 on board, and found them tolerable eating, making a change from 

 the salt junk and biscuit on which we were living. 



These spits extend a long distance from the mainland. Tliey 

 are covered with reeds, and are full of creeks and lagoons, and 

 are of course well suited to the habits of Grallatores and 

 Natatores. I shot several Sandwich Terns [Sterna cantiaca) 

 near Eregli. I have already stated, above, that Terns of various 

 species were abundant in the Sea of Azov. The Little Gull 

 [Larus minutus) is generally to be seen in the Golden Horn at 

 Constantinople. The Shearwaters I saw may be the species 

 called by Messrs. Elwes and Buckley (Ibis, 1870, p. 336) 

 Puffinus yelkouan ; but my specimens answer better to the spe- 

 cies described by Thompson (Birds of Ireland, vol. iii. p. 413) 

 as P. anglorum. Probably both are to be met with. Any way, 

 no one can be long on the Bosphorus or Dardanelles without 

 seeing these birds. They are always passing up and down, 

 flying close to the surface of the water. Only twice during 

 more than a yearns residence in Turkey did I see them resting 

 on the water. Once I saw a flock settled, and swimming about 

 near the Leander tower, opposite Scutari ; and again I saw a 

 very large flock settled on the sea, which at the time was very 

 calm, when passing through the Greek archipelago. There is 

 no difficulty in obtaining specimens. One day in July I was 

 staying at Therapia, and wanted some ; so I took a caique, and 

 went so as to intercept their line of flight. They came in 

 rapidly succeeding flocks, passing close to the boat. Out of 

 two flocks I got five birds — quite as many as I wanted. On 



