368 Mr. L. N. G. Ramsay on the 



deciduous trees, but elsewhere the plains were practically 

 treeless, except for the lofty Lombardy poplars and groves 

 of other trees in and around the towns. 



The most characteristic birds of the open plains are Larks 

 of a number of species, which are very numerous. The 

 Isabelline Wheatear (Saxicola isabellind) is an equally 

 characteristic and widely dispersed species, while Sand- 

 Grouse (Pterocles arenarius), Lapwings (Vanellus vulgaris), 

 Rollers {Coracias garrulus), and various others are found 

 locally. The Lesser Kestrel [Falco cenchris) is very 

 common and widely distributed. In and about the towns 

 Swifts (Cypselus apus), Kites {Milvus ictinus), Storks 

 [Ciconia alba), Swallows [Hirundo rusiica), and Starlings 

 [Sturnus unicolo?-) are common, while Vultures are often 

 to be seen soaring aloft or gorging themselves on some 

 carcase in the plain. 



At Eski-Shehera small river, the Hodja-Su, flows past the 

 outskirts of the town, and here was one of the most interest- 

 ing assemblages of bird-life. The sluggish river had cut for 

 itself in the alluvial loam, steep banks^ often nearly perpen- 

 dicular for a height of from four to six feet above the water, 

 and in these many Sand-Martins [Cotile riparia) had dug their 

 nest-holes. Nearby was cultivated ground (market-gaidens) 

 with rows of large trees and bushes, in which a good many 

 Magpies {Pica rustica) and several pairs of Kites (Milvus 

 ictinus) had their nests. On one of the largest trees a colony 

 of about twenty pairs of Herons [Ardea cinerea) had estab- 

 lished themselves, and the ground below was strewn with 

 their egg-shells. There were also many Lesser Kestrels, 

 especially around one very large tree further along the 

 river. 



In the vertical banks of the stream, there were other holes 

 besides those of the Martins, and, on one of these being dug 

 out, a green crab measuring about two and a half inches 

 across the carapace, was found. This, Mr. L. A. Borradaile 

 informs me, was probably one of the freshwater forms of 

 the genera Potamon or Telphusa. 



