OCCASIONAL NOTES. 261 
the Mediterranean. ... The Swallow, and many other birds of similar 
powers of flight, are able to cross over the entire breadth of the Mediter- 
ranean, especially by taking advantage of a favourable wind. But many 
birds are quite incapable of flying over a surface of 350 miles from head- 
land to headland across the Mediterranean without alighting, and would 
require many days, and even weeks, to perform the trip through Syria and 
Palestine. Such are the Ortolans, Beccaficos, Wren, Titmouse, smaller 
thrushes and finches, with a hundred other diminutive specimens 
of the feathered tribes, . . . and as the severity of the winter would be 
fatal to them, not only in Asia Minor but even in Syria and Palestine, He 
who is ever mindful of the smallest of His creatures has provided them 
with means of transportation to a more genial clime. Many of them, 
indeed, find their way downward from Palestine into Arabia and Egypt, but 
this would be difficult, if not impossible, where lofty mountains and broad 
seas intervene, and to meet such cases the Crane has been provided. .... 
Most of these birds are migratory. In the autumn numerous flocks may 
be seen coming from the north with the first cold blasts from that quarter, 
flying low, and uttering a peculiar cry, as if of alarm, as they circle over the 
cultivated plains. Little birds of every species may then be seen flying up 
to them, while the twittering songs of those already comfortably settled 
upon their backs may be distinctly heard. On their return in the spring 
they fly high, apparently considering that their little passengers can easily 
- find their way down to the earth.” 
[Can any correspondent furnish confirmatory evidence of this ?—Ep.] 
Piep FiycarcHer IN PErTHsHIRE,—A male, still in winter plumage, was 
shot here on 23rd April. It had been observed for about a week, and was 
evidently recognised as a stranger by the other small birds, by whom it was 
somewhat mobbed. ‘This species has only occurred in Scotland as a rare 
straggler, the last occurrence I find recorded being also a male, obtained at 
North Berwick on 23rd May, 1872 (Lumsden, Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc., 
Glasgow, ii., p. 192).—J. J. Datexeish (Dumbarton Grange, Culross, 
Perthshire.) 
[Other reports have reached us of the occurrence of this little bird in 
Kast Sutherland and Rosshire during the present spring.—ED.] 
Wuire Lanprain neEAR Exxytrer. —I have been given, for this 
Museum, a Landrail shot at Pinhoe, near Exeter, on May 3rd. It is 
entirely of a dirty white or dove-colour. The irides were bright red. 
Another specimen, in ordinary plumage, has also been given to me. It 
was picked up dead on the 7th inst. in one of the “greens” or enclosures, 
in front of the houses on Southernhay, in this city. One of its wings was 
broken close to the body, perhaps by flying against some object. A Land- 
rail was brought to me May 8th, 1870, which had killed itself by flying 
