Birds. 5(573 



I had a chance of examining were shot by some men who were left in 

 camp on the eventful day following, which I minutely examined, and, 

 not knowing what they were, noted the following description at the 

 time: — Length llj inches; extent 22|- inches ; closed wing 8 inches ; 

 upper parts dark greenish brown, tinged with light brown, except part 

 of the tail-feathers, but mostly on the head ; under parts, throat light 

 yellow-brown, remainder white; swallow-tailed; legs and feet black: 

 they were excellent eating. I have no doubt that the above-mentioned 

 birds were pratincoles, but which of the two very similar species I 

 cannot say ; however, I consider the following to be the blackwinged 

 pratincole [Glareola melanoptera), although without more proof I must 

 include it among the doubtful. A specimen was brought to me, which 

 had been shot near the Alma on the 2nd of May out of a flock : on 

 referring to Yarrell, I considered that it was the collared pratincole, 

 not being aware of another closely allied species, but I noted at the 

 time the points in which it did not agree with his description : — 

 Length lOf inches; closed wing l\ inches ; first quill-feather the 

 longest; greenish tinge on the back ; auxiliary plume and under- surface 

 of the wing black ; legs and feet also black. 1 was very sorry that the 

 specimen was in so bad a state that I considered it not worth preserving, 

 for if I had kept even the wing it would have settled the point. 



The golden plover (Char adrius pluvial is) arrived in the Crimea on 

 their northward journey some time after the middle of March, and 

 I heard of none after the beginning of April ; but the dotterel {Chara- 

 drius mofinellus) were about in numbers at the time, and Dr. William 

 Carte procured a specimen in March ; they, however, I think, followed 

 their golden relations in a few days, as I have none noted after the 5th 

 of April. Dr. W. Carte also brought home a specimen of the former. 



I found a specimen of the diminutive Kentish plover {Oiaradrius 

 cantianUs) on the 7th of April among a number of other birds which 

 had been shot by an officer some days. I also considered that 1 saw 

 one of these birds on the north side of Sebastopol Harbour after the 

 middle of May. I preserved the specimen above mentioned. 



T have seen a specimen of the little ringed plover {Charadrius 

 minor), which was procured in the Crimea by Lieut. Irby, who has 

 also included in his list Charadius hiaticula. 



The peewit or lapwing {Vanellus cristatus) was observed by me in 

 April and at the end of October, and Dr. William Carte brought a 

 specimen from that country. 



Up to beyond the middle of September I observed large flights of 

 birds coming from the north, which I took for plover. 



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