Vol. xiii.] 66 



ornithological interest, although he was naturally not able to 

 collect or even to observe, except in the most casual manner. 



At Nice Dr. Sclater had visited the new Ostrich-farm 

 recently established there by some Americans. The birds 

 were mostly of the Cape form (Strut hio camelus capensis), 

 and had been imported from California, but some young birds 

 of the northern form had been lately received. All seemed 

 to be in a thriving condition and were commencing to 

 breed. This was the first attempt, so far as Dr. Sclater knew, 

 to establish an Ostrich-farm in any part of Europe. 



At Palermo Dr. Sclater had met with a most kind recep- 

 tion from his friend Mr. Joseph I. S. Whitaker (well known 

 to the B. O. C.) and had inspected with great interest the 

 mounted collection of Sicilian Birds in Mr. Whitaker's private 

 Museum at Malfitano. Mr. Whitaker was also the owner of 

 an excellent series of Tunisian and Algerian birds in skin, 

 and was devoting his spare time to a work on Tunisian 

 ornithology which was expected to be shortly ready for 

 publication. 



Leaving Palermo on March 10th the ' Cuzco ' had touched 

 at Candia in Crete on the 13th and at Kyrenia in Cyprus on 

 the 15th, and had stayed 12 hours at each of them. Chimney- 

 Swallows (Hirundo rustica) were noticed abundant and 

 apparently already paired at both these places. Dr. Sclater 

 remarked that very little had been done in Ornithology in 

 Crete for many years * 3 and that, now that the island was 

 free from Turkish misrule and English visitors were 

 welcomed, the island offered a fair field for exploration, as the 

 high mountains might be expected to produce some attractive 

 species. Of the birds of Cyprus we had Lord Lilford's List 

 (Ibis, 1889, p. 305), but even there additions might be made. 



From Cyprus the ' Cuzco ' proceeded to Beyrout, whence 

 a most interesting land excursion was made by railway over 

 the Lebanon Range (which was found still covered with 

 snow) to Baalbec and Damascus. At Beyrout Dr. Sclater 



* The only account of the birds of Crete that I know of is Col. 

 Drummond's ' List ' in Ann. Nat. Hist. xii. p. 423, with notes by H. E. 

 Strickland (1843,).— P. L. S. 



