5354 Birds. 



interior of the Crimea ; not seen among the rocks by the coast, This 

 bird bred, in two instances, on trees close to the Katcha river : the 

 nests were about thirty feet from the ground, and were very large, 

 formed of sticks, lined with grass and old rags. The remains of a hare 

 was in one nest, in which was also a young bird, just hatched, which 

 did not live long, as may be imagined. A very fine specimen was 

 killed with a revolver, while sitting on a tree near the Alma : the bird 

 was apparently gorged, and therefore allowed a very near approach. 

 This eagle is apparently distinct from the American whiteheaded 

 eagle (F. leucocephala), and is not, I think, described in any English 

 work on Ornithology : unfortunately I was not aware of this at the 

 time, and so did not particularly notice it : it is known to the Russian 

 naturalists under the name of leucoryphon. A friend of mine, a good 

 observer of birds, saw one of these eagles chase an osprey, and make 

 it drop its fish : I have heard that the American whiteheaded eagle 

 does the same. The head, feet and sternum of one of these birds are 

 in England, and will no doubt clear up the question as to whether it 

 is a distinct species or not. 



Osprey (Falco haliceetus). Two or three pairs frequented the 

 harbour of Sebastopol in the spring of 1856. 



Peregrine Falcon {Falco peregriniis). Seen on two or three 

 occasions in winter. 



Hobby (F. subbuteo). Migratory ; first seen on the 24th of 

 April ; became common in June : appears to catch beetles, &c, on 

 the wing, whereas the lesser kestrel generally catches them on the 

 ground. 



Redfooted Falcon (F. rufipes). Only two specimens, adult and 

 immature male, came under my observation, which were killed on the 

 7th of June, 1856. 



Merlin {F. cesalon). Observed in December, 1854, and in January, 

 1855. 



Common Kestrel (F. tinnunculus). Common all the year, and often 

 bred in the holes of trees. 



Lesser Kestrel (F. vespertinus). Migratory ; first seen in the 

 beginning of April, and became very common afterwards : nested 

 generally on rocks, sometimes on trees. On the 5th of May, 1856, 

 I saw a lesser kestrel, a hoopoe, a bee-eater and roller go into holes in 

 the banks of the Katcha, within a space of six or seven square yards. 

 This little hawk appears to feed, when in a wild state, entirely on in- 

 sects and beetles, generally taking them on the ground. A female, 

 which was kept alive, would eat mice, and was also very fond of flies. 



