4-fi4 On Birds in South Ifussia. [This, 



nest containing nine eggs in various stages oE incubation 

 was found on 15 May in the root" ot a peasant's hut, nearly 

 all the tiles having been removed in the process of search, 

 much to the disgust of the owner, who was only pacified by 

 an assurance tliat his name would be entered on the data label. 



In the marshes and on the sandbiinks of the north great 

 numbers of Terns and Gulls breed ; eggs of the Slender- 

 billed Grull (Lams f/elastes) were ol)tained at Arabat. The 

 Great Black-headed Gull (Larus irhtlujaetus) was fi'equentl}' 

 seen flving; over the Putrid Sea. Other birds noted in the 

 marshes were the Avocet, Lapwing, Gargauey, and a 

 species of Harrier which was nesting near Djankoi. 



I was given some Eagle's eggs taken on 20. iv. 20 by 

 Lieut. Martino, who had assigned them to " the form of 

 Imperial Eagle without a white marking on the shoulder.^' 

 It appears possible that they are eggs of the Steppe Eagle. 

 The nest was in a tree some 30 feet from the ground in a 

 valley of the Mackenzie Heights, and the birds had built 

 in the same locality for several years. The chief food of 

 the Eagle was described as consisting of " sushliks," the 

 common rodents of the steppes. 



Eggs were also obtained of the following : — Greenfinch, 

 Chaffinch, Red-backed Shrike, ('alandra Lark, White-winged 

 Lark, Jay, Hooded Crow, Starling, Blackbird, Song- Thrush, 

 Magpie, Mistle-Thrush, Blue Tit, Longtailed Tit. 



In conclusion, I may perhaps be permitted to set down a 

 note from my diary which throws a gleam of light on ancient 

 days. Falconry appears to be a lost art in the Crimea, but 

 it was once a favourite pastime of the Tartar Khan, whose 

 palace is still to be seen in good repair at Bahkchi-Serai, 

 The following story was related to me by the Circassian 

 Sergeant — a fine tall fellow, distinguished by his long and 

 fierce moustache and bright scarlet breeches — who was chief 

 of the body-guard of a Russian General to whose staff" I was 

 attached for some time. One of his ancestors was the Khan's 

 Cbief Falconer. In the royal mews was a pair of rare and 

 valued Falcons of exceeding courage and swiftness of flight, 

 which the Khan had procured at great trouble and expense 

 from an eastern land. It came to pass that, one morning, 



