40(5 Mr. F. C. Scions on 



discovered tlie nest of a Black-cared Wheatear [Suxicola 

 ulbicollis) in a crevice of an old stone wall, just ready for 

 eggs, and when quite close to Bournabat wc were shown the 

 nest of a Crested Lark (Galerita cristata) by a shepherd - 

 boy. This nest contained four eggs which were much incu- 

 bated. It was placed in a field of standing corn, in a 

 depression of the ground, and closely resembled the nest of a 

 Sky-Lark, Among the many birds we saw dui'ing our walk, 

 Hollers {Coracias garrulus) , Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster), and 

 Black-headed Buntings {Ernbei'iza melanocephala) were the 

 most noticeable from their conspicuous plumage. The males 

 of the last species, in full nuptial dress, were very abundant 

 and very tauie, and when sitting on a bush or a small olive- 

 tree, with throat swelled out and in full song, would allow 

 one to approach within a few yards of them without taking 

 alarm. Besides the Woodchat-Shrikes, which were very 

 common, we also saw several Masked Shrikes {Lanius 

 nubicus). I could not identify all the Warblers I saw, but 

 I recognized the Orphean Warbler [Sylvia orphcea), which is, 

 I think, a common species in this district of Asia Minor. 



On the following day, May Oth, I went in Mr. W^ ^s 



launch to a place on the coast, a \e\w miles from Smyrna, 

 where salt is made by flooding shallow mud-pans with sea- 

 water and then allowing the water to evaporate by the heat 

 of the sun. Here are some small fiat islands, standing in 

 very shallow water, where many birds breed. But it was 

 still too early in the season for eggs. I saw Common, Lesser, 

 and Gull-billed Terns, Pratincoles and Kentish Plovers, and 

 also great numbers of Black-headed Wagtails [MotacUla 

 melanocephala) ; but I found only one nest of the Kentish 

 Plover {^gialitis cantiana) , with three eggs a good deal 

 incubated, and also saw a young one in down of the same 

 species just hatched out. These were probably two early 

 nests, and I feel sure that the Terns, Pratincoles, and most of 

 the Kentish Plovers had not yet laid. On our way to the 

 salt-works we saw many Mediterranean Black-headed Gulls 

 {Larus melanocephalus) and a few Yellow-legged Herring- 

 Gulls (L ca(hi)inans). 



