97 



Mr. H. E. Strickland read the following list of Birds noticed or ob- 

 tained by him in Asia Minor, in the winter of 1835 and spring of 1836. 

 He stated that the winter of last year was one of unusual severity 

 in all parts of Europe. At Smyrna, where he resided from Novem- 

 ber to February, the weather, which had been mild in the early 

 part of December, underwent a sudden change about Christmas- 

 day. A north wind and violent storms of snow brought vast flocks 

 of northern Birds to take shelter in Smyrna Bay. A frost of more 

 than three weeks followed, a circumstance almost without parallel 

 at Smyrna, which is situated close to the sea and in the low latitude 

 of 38i°. This statement will explain the occurrence in the follow- 

 ing list, of many Birds whose usual abode is in high northern lati- 

 tudes. 



In the month of February he visited Constantinople, and returned 

 overland to Smyrna, which he reached at the end of April. A great 

 change had now taken place in the ornithology of that neighbour- 

 hood. The spring was now at its height, and numerous summer 

 birds had arrived, of a more exotic race than those which had been 

 observed during the winter. Mr. Strickland was now, however, com- 

 pelled to return to Europe ; but the few days which passed before 

 he left Smyrna, served to give him a taste of the rich ornitholo- 

 gical harvest which might be reaped by a summer's residence in Asia 

 Minor. 



Of those species in the following list which have an asterisk at- 

 tached, specimens had been obtained by Mr. Stricldand and were 

 exhibited. 



" Vultur, 111. "1 

 Aquila, Briss. J 

 Two or three species of each of these families frequent the neigh- 

 bourhood of Smyrna, but all my endeavours to procure specimens of 

 these wary birds were unavailing. 



*1. Fulco ^salon, Linn. Smyrna; rare. 

 *2. Falco Tinnunculus, Linn. SmjTiia; rare. 

 *3. Falco tinnunculoides , Temm. Very abundant in Asia Minor 

 during the spring. It frequents the Turkish villages, and builds in 

 the roofs of the houses. Its mode of hovering is similar to that of the 

 common Kestrel, but it is more gregarious in its habits than that bird. 

 *4. Accipiter Fringillaria, Ray. Smyrna. 

 *5. Buteo vulgaris, Beciist. Smyrna. 

 *6. Circtis cyaneus, Flem. Smyrna. 

 *7. Circus rufus, Briss. Smyrna. 



8. Otus bruckyotus, Cuv. Smyrna. 

 *9. Ulula Stredula, Selby. Smyrna. 

 *10. Bubo maximus, Sibb. Smyrna. 



*11. Noctua nudipes, Nilss. Very common in the Levant. 

 *12. Lanius minor, Linn. Smyrna, in April. 

 *13. Lanius rufus, Uriis. Smyrna, in April. 

 *14. Lanius Collurio, Linn. Smyrna, in April. 



15. Turdus Merula, Linn. Smyrna. 



16. Turdus solitarius,\Jmn . Frequents the rocks and hills near 

 Smyrna. 



