272 Mr. C. G. Dauford oti the 



birds, especially with Buntings {Emberiza melanocephala and 

 E. hortulana) and Warblers [Sylvia orphea and Cossypha gut- 

 turalis) . A fishing-excursion to the small lake of Kabat-geul 

 resulted in the capture of sundry pike with dark purple fins 

 and a lot of ordinary roach. Numbers of snakes were swim- 

 ming about; and frogs and tortoises were in legions. Speci- 

 mens of Great Sedge- Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers, and 

 Penduline Tits were the additions to our collection. 



We left Kaisariyeh May 8th, and made a direct march north 

 to Samsoun, on the Black Sea. At Erkelet and Kemer, the 

 first villages on the way, flocks of Bee-eaters [Merops api- 

 aster) made their appearance, and a few Woodpeckers were 

 seen, which we could neither shoot nor identify. They seemed, 

 from their size, to be Picus lilfordi ; but the locality is an 

 unlikely one for that species. Here were a few vineyards and 

 orchards, and by the wayside grew patches of wild yellow 

 roses and jasmines ; but as the valley of the Kizil Irmak (Red 

 River) was neared the country became more barren. The 

 river is dirtj'^ and rapid, and about eighty yards wide where 

 it is crossed by the long stone bridge, at the north end of 

 which is a singular-looking village. The houses are mostly 

 excavated in the rocks ; and it is very aptly called by the 

 Turks " Chock-guez " (many eyes) . 



Beyond this river the country as far as Aladja is, for the 

 most part, a dreary undulating plateau, covered with grass 

 and stones. Here and there are miserable villages, with a 

 little cultivation and a few small trees about them ; and on 

 the better pasture-lands one meets with large encampments 

 of black Kurdish tents. 



In other districts there are plenty of flowers, especially in 

 narrow defiles, where there is some shade from the fierce sun. 

 In such places grow quantities of beautiful short-stalked 

 irises of two colours (dull buff and maroon), gladioli, wild 

 scentless mignonnette, a pale slate-coloured flax, large patches 

 of convolvulus, the rare Iwiolirion montanum, and many 

 other plants. Butterflies are very numerous, most of the 

 European genera being well represented by only slightly 

 varying forms. 



