Ornithology of Asia Minor. 97 
dagh, in the direction of Konia. The castle itself has been 
constructed on the two highest peaks and the intervening 
gap. Only one of these peaks proved accessible, and, as far 
as birds were concerned, did not repay the climb, nothing 
being seen but Chats, Rock-Thrushes, Rock-Martins, and an 
unapproachable Golden Eagle’s nest. 
Nor is there much worth recording either in the aspect of 
the country or its fauna until one reaches Eski Shahir, a place 
remarkable as being the chief seat of the meerschaum trade. 
This substance is taken from pits some five hours distant, the 
formation extending towards Kutaiya and along the banks of 
the Sakaria. On leaving Eski Shehir the character of the 
landscape changes, the undulating plateau being quitted 
for a valley, wide and bare at first, but gradually contracting 
and becoming clothed with pine and oak scrub. Our atten- 
tion was drawn to a Buteo ferox, which was doing valiant 
aerial combat witha large Eagle; and at our midday halt we 
took from the rocks two eggs of this bird, the nest being lined 
with mats of camel’s hair. In a cave close by an Eagle-Owl 
was sitting hard, other nooks being tenanted by Lesser Kes- 
trels and Egyptian Vultures, while at Bosujuk, a little further 
on,a couple of Choughs (Pyrrhocoraz graculus) had established 
themselves in a rock above the village. About this point the 
descent from the elevated tableland began, and the scenery 
became very pretty. Thrushes, Nightingales, and Blackcaps 
in full song, flowers in profusion, fruit-trees in rich bloom, 
and, on either side of the quick-flowing stream, the fresh bright 
greens of the deciduous trees, mingled with the darker shades 
of varied evergreens, were all doubly grateful after the long 
wastes of the interior. It was with regret that we left this 
beautiful valley and struck across some much less interesting 
country to the red-roofed village of Bazardjik and the forests 
of the Kara-dagh. 'These woods are very extensive, and are 
chiefly composed of old oaks, varied with elms, a few silver 
spruces, and a thick undergrowth. From the guard-house 
on the ridge there is a splendid view, as, from grassy open- 
ings bright with primroses, violets, and bell-hyacinths, one 
looks across the far-reaching woods upon the massive snow- 
SER. IV.—VOL. IV. H 
