Ornithology of Asia Minor. 265 



stream was crossed by a picturesque bridge ; near by were 

 some wet rocks covered with Hart^s-tongue fern {Scolopen- 

 drium vulgare) — a very rare species in Asia Minor. A rise of 

 1700 feet by zigzags up the one practicable cleft in the rocks 

 of the north side brought us near Zebil^ in which village much 

 time was destined to be lost through the occurrence of certain 

 casualties^ and in fruitless efforts to obtain Tetraogallus. 



Zebil is the westernmost village on the south side of the 

 Bulgar dagh. Its elevation is about 3500 feet. Close be- 

 hind it rise the high hills ; and in front is the deep ravine and 

 river just alluded to. Though unnamed on the maps^ this 

 stream has certainly a larger body of water and quite as long 

 a course as the branch to the eastward, and therefore seems 

 as fully entitled to the classic name of Cydnus. Its origin is 

 reported to be in the wall-like barrier of the Bulgar-dagh at 

 the head of the Chojak deresi. There it is said to spring 

 from the rock in great volume, with a fall of about 20 feet. 

 The deep snow prevented a visit to this spot, which is further 

 remarkable for the remains of an ancient town, as yet appa- 

 rently unexplored. The natives say that the position of the 

 streets can be clearly traced, and that other ruins exist among 

 the hills. 



The river itself bears no name in this district, but is called 

 by those given to the different bends of the ravine through 

 which it flows. These are Chojak deresi, Jeharinum deresi, 

 Pambouk deresi, and so on. After entering the plain it is 

 known as the Tersous-tchai. Vertically considered, these 

 ravines are, in their lower depths, clothed with vai;ious oaks 

 and evergreen shrubs, which higher up give place to spruces, 

 red firs, white firs, and finally to cedars and junipers. There 

 is but little life in the upper regions — the winter resort of 

 the ibex and a few predatory animals. An occasional Lam- 

 mergeyer or Golden Eagle swoops about the crags ; the cries 

 of the Peregrine and Raven, or the aerial consultations of a 

 party of Alpine Choughs, are heard now and again. Often 

 nothing breaks the stillness but the tapping of a stray Wood- 

 pecker or the notes of Kriiper's ubiquitous Nuthatch. The 

 part of the ravine immediately below Zebil is called Jehannum 



