92 Mr. C. G. Danford on the 
From Jarpuz our route lay north to Maragos, and thence 
across the double chain of mountains which form the Anti- 
taurus. The division is made by a valley, through which 
runs a small sluggish stream said to be the upper waters 
of the eastern branch of the Sarus. The deep snow on the 
exposed bels (ridges) and among the juniper-forests made 
the passage of the mountains rather difficult; and it is only 
in very exceptional seasons that they can be traversed so early 
in the year. The junipers (Juniperus excelsa) are very large, 
and form almost the sole tree-growth of the higher elevations ; 
among them Tits (Parus ceruleus, P. ater), Nuthatches (Sitta 
krueperi), and flocks of Snow-Finches (7) were the only 
signs of bird-lfe; but on descending to the fir-woods Cross- 
bills, Ring-Ouzels, and a few other species were observed. 
After the long rides of the last few days a halt at Azizich was 
welcome enough; and it was a change to meet with Circas- 
sians, who here form the bulk of the population, their colony 
numbering sixty-six villages. This little town is a wonderful 
improvement on things Turkish, most of the houses being 
well built, with glazed windows, and the shops containing 
good bread, tea, and other luxuries. Close by are several 
small streams, from one of which a couple of large pike were 
taken with the casting-net; but they appeared to be void of 
trout. Ducks there were of many species; and unapproach- 
able Cranes (Grus cinerea) stalked about the fields. Eagles, 
too, werenumerous, Aquila chrysaetos being very common; but 
of the many nests visited, not one had yet been laid in; nor 
could we obtain any eggs of Haliaetus leucoryphus, though 
the birds were by no means rare ; indeed, the only eggs taken 
belonged to a pair of H. albicilia, which had built in a soli- 
tary fir tree in preference to all eligible positions on the sur- 
rounding rocks. 
From Azizich to Kaisariyech is three days’ march over an 
undulating plateau broken up by hills, on whose tops are 
many conical earth mounds, probably ancient burying-places. 
At this stage of the journey occurred furious snow-storms, 
followed by hard frost, which brought down hordes of Ducks 
to the running streams, among them being numbers of Angot 
