462 Lieut. J. N. Kennedy on [Ibis, 



sea tor nul(>s on every hand, and carpeted in spring with 

 tulips and pop[)ies of every hue. In the north, along the 

 shores of the Putrid Sea (deriving its name from an 

 unpleasant odour, chiefly noticeable during a breeze and 

 due to its stagnant and enclosed nature), lie great marshes — 

 the haunt of Duck and Wadersi. Here there arc banks 

 and islands which are the nesting haunts of innumerable 

 sea-birds. 



My bird-notes from the (Jrin;ea are of the scantiest, but 

 perhaps a few remarks may be of interest. I was there from 

 April to June, 1920. 



I am not a geologist, but I will set down the following 

 theory of geological history which was described to me by 

 Russians there, as it will, if correct, be of interest to orni- 

 thologists. The hypothesis is that in the remote past the 

 Crimean Mountains were a prolongation of the Caucasus 

 range, and that they were subsequently cut oft' by the sea, 

 and formed an island for some time. It was presumably 

 during this period that island forms of life developed charac- 

 teristic^ which have persisted to the present day, even after 

 the uplift of the Crimean steppes which have formed a 

 junction with the mainland to the north. It would there- 

 fore appear that the hill district in the south is the true 

 home of subspecies peculiar to the Crimea. 



Lieut. Martino indicated the following subspecific forms 

 us not yet having been described owung to lack of complete 

 series of specimens, and I feel sure he would have no 

 objection to my making his suggestions more widely 

 known : — 



Astur palumharius (subsp. Y). 



Regulus crisfatus (subsj). ?) . 



Accento7' modular is (subsp. ?K 



Ardea cinerea (subspl ?). 



Ijoxia curvirostris (subsp. ?). 



Ruticilla mesoleuca (subsp. '(]. 



Motacilla hoarula (subsj). ?). 



Tardus merula (ji\xhiiY>.'^). 



I retain his own nomenclature. 



