More about birds in the Balkans.



193



note we are trying to describe. I think there is no doubt that the

ordinary loud and sufficiently startling call of the Water Rail is the

sound they mean. The attempt to syllable the voices of birds is

seldom very successful, and certainly this prolonged, deep, and some¬

what musical note could not possibly be so conveyed. This letter is

not written in the belief that it is describing anything new, for

certainly this most remarkable sound must be perfectly well known

not only to many field naturalists but to all those who frequent the

marshes, and known as the voice of the Water-Rail. But in the case

of so secretive a bird it cannot often, I think, be heard so close at

hand. Among all the sounds of spring or summer it might well

pass at a little distance for the croaking of frogs, as doubtless I

myself must often in other days have taken it to be. I do not know

how many pairs of these birds there are here; I have seen three at

once. In conclusion, I will only add that if any ornithologist who

does not know this singular call and has a night to spare would care

to come down, I should be delighted. Although things seldom come

off just when they are particularly wanted to do so, I think it is

safe to say that he would certainly see the bird feeding, and with

any luck at all would hear as evening fell the strange call of the

Water Rail.


Ashford Chase,


Petersjield.



MORE ABOUT BIRDS IN THE BALKANS.


From ‘ The Balkan News.’


The birds of prey are wonderful, and there are several kin ds,

which I have not been lucky enough to have in my hand, and which

I admit I am defeated by. In addition to X’s list I have seen

Spotted Eagles, one pair of Eagle Owls (in one place only), and

Short-eared Owls, which are very common by the plains in spring.

That well-known Macedonian hunter, Sandy, last year shot a Lanner

Falcon, and gave it to me.


Another interesting bird found on the Doiran front and also

near Lake Langaza is the Pigmy Cormorant. It is unknown to



