4 Mr. P. J. C. McGregor on [Ibis, 



cloud and, mingling with a certain proportion of Tlooks, 

 proceeds to execute elaborate and noisy niancguvres over the 

 plain till just before nightfall, when all return gleefully to 

 their quarters. 



Nest-building was begun in 1910 about the middle of 

 March, and. when during the first week in April the snow 

 began to disappear from the fields, they were to be seen 

 foraging in company with Lapwings, Rooks, and Starlings. 

 A return of winter, however, interfered with their nesting- 

 arrangements, and it was the 30th of April before either 

 Hooks or Jackdaws had eggs. Daring May and June they 

 find abundant nourishment in the fields and vegetable- 

 gardens near the town ; but later on they seem to extend 

 their daily journey to the swamps of the Kara Su, and in 

 my camp it was a rare occurrence to observe a Jackdaw, 

 My imprebsion is that they do not frequent the villages, but 

 during a visit to Hassan Kala'a, about fifteen miles east of 

 Erzerum, I found tlicm in numljers sharing the rums of the 

 Citadel with Swallows, Wheatears, and Starlings. 



Pica pica. Magpie. 



Magpies may be met with throughout the year, but they 

 are not abundant and do not collect in flights as in the 

 Balkan countries. Only on one occasion — and that w'as on 

 March 28, 1911 — did I see a flock; it was composed of 

 about twenty individuals, and on that day isolated speci- 

 mens were noticeably numerous. In the depth of winter 

 they are constantly to be seen in the town and are aa 

 enlivening feature in the roof landscape. 



Sturnus purpurascens. Starling. 



Immense numbers breed in the town of Erzerum and at 

 Hassan Kala'a, where the roughly built stone-houses and 

 the extensive fortifications afford abundance of nesting 

 accommodation. The Starlings first appear in large flocks 

 about the 15th of March, and from that date onwards 

 every patch of soil laid bare by the increasing warmth of 

 the sun is crowded with these birds in company with Lap- 

 wings, Rooks, Jackdaws, Pipits, and Rock- Doves, the 



