1921.] Birds of Macedonia. 223 



Platalea leucorodia. Spoonbill, 



A consiilcrable number crossed the Struma — going east — 

 on the evening oE 23 May ; they were travelling in parties of 

 from 6 to 20 birds. Seen again in June. It is quite probable 

 that I had overlooked these high flying Spoonbills for several 

 weeks. At a good height, the flocks are very liable to be mis- 

 taken for flocks of Geese or Storks. This may seem rather 

 ridiculous, but when the air was thick, the light failing, and 

 the sky full of passing skeins of AVhitefronts, it was a very 

 easy mistake to make. 



Ardea cinerea. Heron. 



Seen in no oreat numbers along the course of the Struma 

 and Butkova rivers, December and April. 



Ardea purpurea. Purple Heron. 

 Odd birds seen near the Struma at intervals. 

 (I did not meet with any " White '^ Heron, but should say 

 that I never visited the lakes.) 



Botaurus stellaris. Bittern. 

 Occasionally on the Struma plain. 



Ciconia ciconia. White Stork. 



Noted on 13 May in the springs of 1917 and 1918. Breeds 

 plentifully on the plain — ahnost always in trees. There were 

 numerous nests at Kopriva, Orljak, Elisan, Dragos, and 

 Ormanli. Some of the villages on the hills were not so 

 I'avoured. At Ormanli there were 26 occupied nests on one 

 side of the village alone. There were very few chimney-top 

 nests in my district, although a few birds had nests on the 

 church towers. Odd birds seen late in October. 



Otis tarda. Great Bustard. 



I only saw one, but from all accounts w\as unfortunate in 

 not seeing more. A single bird flew over our camp on 

 7 April, at Alexia. 



Otis tetrax. Little Bustard. 



Seen commonly when once the right localities were found. 

 On 4 May, one of these birds jumped out ot" the long grass 



