in the Dobvudscha. 3G5 



Reverting, however, for the preseut to the coast, we find that, 

 where the earth-cliffs do not come down directly to the sea, lakes 

 both of salt and fresh water intervene. These are generally 

 separated from the sea by strips of land, such as the one pre- 

 viously described at Sud Geul. Towards the north the lakes 

 are more extensive. The earth -cliffs about Kustendje are much 

 I'esorted to by birds for breeding, from the facility with which 

 they are perforated. The Eagle-Owl {Bubo maxirnus) has been 

 known, though not quite lately, to have its eyrie on a very ac- 

 cessible ledge in one of these faces ; but it is not likely this will 

 occur again, owing to an increase in the European population 

 hereabouts. The Turk is a true friend to all birds, and never 

 molests them ; but where Franks and Greeks abound guns 

 become numerous, and birds diminish, Tne Ruddy Shelduck 

 {Tadorna rutila) breeds in these places, as also in the holes of Tra- 

 jan's wall, and in other holes up the country. Eggs, however, of 

 this bird would be of no value to collectors unless authenticated, 

 as the other species occurs spai'ingly. Though plentiful, it is by. 

 no means easy to obtain the eggs. I and my friend spent the 

 greater part of a day in driving a tunnel into a bank where one 

 had been seen to come out. But our labour was in vain ; for 

 after advancing several yards, working one at a time, prostrate, 

 and in the dark, the original hole was found to fork off into 

 two branches. The natives sometimes obtain a sitting which is 

 hatched, and the young ones are brought up for domestic pur- 

 poses. Starlings and Jackdaws (always Corvus collaris : see 

 ' Ibis,' vol.ii. p. 355) are likewise fond of these cliffs. Acridotheres 

 roseus has also been noticed, but not by me ; it may be seen at 

 times sparingly mixed with the other Starlings. This bird, as is 

 well known, breeds in large colonies in parts of Asia Minor, 

 though at irregular intervals ; it is not supposed that it ever 

 breeds here. A few Gulls frequent these cliffs, but they were 

 very scarce in the month of April, and being rather shy from 

 frequent shooting, I was not able to handle a specimen. Judg- 

 ing from a distance, Larus fuscus and L. argentatus seem to 

 prevail. We picked up the remains of a Shearwater in the very 

 last stage of decomposition ; it appeared to hePi/ffinus anglorum. 

 I fancy this is the species so numerous on the Bosphorus, where 



