2654 Birds. 



once observe it. I may add that within the last two days I have observed several of 

 the lesser black-backed gull (L. fuscus) in the Piroeus, which is the only species here 

 at present. — Win. Balfour Baikie ; Athens, November 17, 1849. 



Occurrence of the Fork-tailed Petrel (Thalassidroma Leachii) in Norfolk. — A second 

 specimen of the fork-tailed petrel has lately occurred near Yarmouth, having been 

 killed on Caistor Beach on the 4th of this month (December). The former specimen 

 was a male, the present is a female. The male specimen is decidedly the larger of 

 the two, and the colouring and markings of its plumage are more distinct than is 

 the case in the female. — J. H. Gurney ; Easton, Norfolk, December 8, 1849. 



Migratory Flights of Birds observed on the North Coast of Cyprus, during August 

 and September, 1849. — 



Date. Bird. Direction of flight. 



August 25 First flight of herons North. 



„ 26 First flight of purple herons „ 



„ 28 Second flight of herons „ 



„ „ First flight of egrets „ 



„ „ First flight of ducks „ 



„ „ First flight of storks South. 



„ 30 Second flight of ducks North. 



„ „ Third flight of herons „ 



„ , A single hoopoe South. 



„ 31 Second flight of purple herons North. 



September 1 Third flight of ducks „ 



„ 3 First flight of geese „ 



„ 4 Fourth flight of ducks „ 



„ „ Second flight of storks South. 



„ 8 Third flight of storks „ 



The second flight of storks amounted to about three hundred, and the third was still 

 more numerous : it contained a number of young ones, whose cries were distinctly 

 heard : this flock, as it arrived just before dark, remained on the island all night. 

 The species of ducks could not be distinctly made out, even with the aid of a glass, 

 as they always flew very low and at a great distance. The hoopoe which I saw had 

 just arrived from seaward : it was considerably exhausted ; but after resting for about 

 half an hour on a date palm, it again continued its southerly course. Rather later I 

 noticed some large flights of swans, but I have unfortunately either mislaid or lost 

 the dates. The first flights immediately preceded the first break in the weather, 

 which took place about the 1st of September. I cannot exactly say whence the 

 various birds proceeded which were flying northwards, but from their course they 

 were no doubt going to different marshes on the coast of Asia Minor, or in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Salonique, where many thousands are annually in the habit of wintering. 

 More lately, on the 7th of this month, while in the gulf of Smyrna, I saw two large 

 flocks of swans proceeding southwards, and thirty hours afterwards the first winter 

 gale of the season commenced. About eight days previously, the first rain and 

 thunder storm of the season was immediately preceded by several small flights of 

 geese and swans. — Wm. Balfour Baikie ; Athens, November 17, 1849. 



