Journey in Fars, S.W. Persia. 507 



Spotted Woodpeckers, Jays, Wood-Larks, Blackbirds, and 

 Kestrels were there, and their notes and songs struck with 

 familiar accents on the ear. 



The oak-wood stretches from this point for probably 200 

 or 300 miles through the mountains to the north-westward. 

 It extends from about 3000 feet to 8000 feet. At the lower 

 elevations the trees are usually larger and more thinly 

 spread, while at the higher altitudes they are small and 

 stunted, but generally grow thickly together. Although 

 much smaller, as a rule, than an average English oak, some 

 specimens of the Persian tree (Quercus persica) would be 

 no disgrace to an English park. The wood is used for fuel 

 and charcoal, and the acorns, which are long and tapering, 

 when skinned and ground are used instead of flour for bread 

 by many of the people of the country. 



The oak-forest possesses a distinct fauna, a squirrel {Sciurus 

 fulvus Blanf.) and several birds being entirely confined to 

 its limits. The birds subspecifically distinct are Sitta europcea 

 persica (vide infra), Parus cceruleus persicus, Parus lugubris 

 dubius, found at all altitudes ; while the forms of Syrnium 

 aluco and Gecinus viridis, met with at higher altitudes, and 

 of Dendrocopus minor may prove distinct. In addition Den- 

 drocopus medius sancti-johannis, Alauda arborea, and Garrulus 

 alricap'illus, so far as I am aware, are not found elsewhere 

 in Persia. 



After camping for a few days in these delightful woods, 

 we marched on over the Pir-i-zan — the highest and perhaps 

 the roughest pass between Bushire and Shiraz. In the 

 valley at the top of the Maiden's Pass the oaks were in full 

 leaf and the birds were busily feeding their young; but as 

 we mounted higher and higher the oak-leaves grew smaller 

 and smaller, until, at some fifteen hundred feet above the. 

 valley, they had scarcely broken from the bud. Another 

 fifteen hundred feet and we had reached the top of the 

 Pir-i-zan, or Old Woman's pass, and here, at T000 feet, not 

 a leal' was to be seen and the birds were only beginning 

 to nest. In a space of three hours we had passed from a 

 lively and joyous summer to a scarcely awakened winter. \ 



2l ,2 



