ASIATIC ORNITHOLOGY. 7?, 



never fail to profit by the ingenious labours of the pelican. Nord- 

 mann counted, on one occasion, forty-nine pelicans fishing together 

 in this fashion on the shores of the Black Sea. 



" Besides these forty-nine," he adds, " there were assembled on 

 the heaps of algae, confervae, and shells cast ashore -by the sea, hun- 

 dreds of sea-mews, sea-swallows, sea-daws, preparing to snatch the 

 fish out of the water, and to divide amongst themselves the remains 

 of the banquet. Finally, several grebes swimming in the area circum- 

 scribed by the semicircle of fishers, while this space was still suffi- 

 ciently broad, played their part at the welcome feast, frequently 

 plunging after the scared and terrified fish." 



The bustard and the grouse, or heather-cock, are common enough 

 in the prairies of Central Asia. Crows and numerous birds of prey 

 also flock thither in search of their dead or living prey. Travellers 

 speak of a black eagle of Mongolia which the Mongols and Kalkas 

 train to hunt the moufflon, the yellow goat, and the saiga. We can- 

 not find the bird described under this name by any naturalist, nor 

 can we determine whether he is an eagle properly so called, or whether 

 he is not rather the cosmopolitan black kite (milvus ater), which 

 rises so fiercely on his plumed wings, 



" And hunts the air for plunder." 



We may mention, as also proper to Central Asia, the Aquila 

 bifasciata of Dr. Gray, and several species of buzzards, hawks, and 

 falcons. These Raptorcs live very peacefully in the desert solitudes, 

 where none disturb them ; and so little do they fear man, that they 

 venture into the Mongol encampments and carry off the provisions 

 destined for the travellers' refreshment. An incident of this nature is 

 recorded by the Abbe' Hue, who, with his companions, was at the 

 time preparing to sup on a quarter of a kid skilfully " dished up " by 

 their Tartar neophyte, Samdadchiemba. 



" We had just seated ourselves," says M. Hue, " in a triangle on 

 the grassy sward, having in our midst the lid of the pot which served 

 instead of a dish, when suddenly a noise like thunder broke over our 



