THE BIRDS OF SARDIS, ASIA MINOR. 99 
grassy level of the Hermus plain. Two Hen Harriers (Circus 
cyaneus) quartered the rushy ground. 
That evening we climbed the Acropolis and had a magnificent 
sunset view with a glow on the snow-capped Tmolus. We put up 
two pairs of Chukar Partridges (Caccabis chucar), one pair from 
the very top of the ruins. It is extremely like the English Red 
Leg. A Turkish workman shot one some days later, and I was 
able to examine the small distinctions. Near the top I was 
attracted by a new and distinct note, a short but very mellow 
and flute-like song. This was the Nuthatch (Sitta kruepert), 
peculiar to Asia Minor, Palestine, and Syria. I+ was only 
recognized in 1863. It is a sprightly bird; after singing it 
poked its head from side to side, and hopped from the top of 
one bush to another with a lively movement. The white cheeks 
and throat and black stripe through the eye are conspicuous. 
I saw it again at Hphesus on April 17th, where a pair were 
evidently nesting in the ruined mosque. 
March 21st.—A real crowd of small birds in the Pactolus 
river bed. The poplars and low bushes and brambles, then still 
quite leafless, were alive with them. My ears were met by a 
confusion of notes, and at least one strange warbler song. 
There were the usual Goldfinches and Chaffinches. Several 
Willow-Wrens (Phylloscopus trochilus), very tame, uttered a 
feeble ‘‘ wheet.”’ A Chiffchaff (P. collybita) sang rather faintly. 
Linnets (Linota cannabina) were there, and a pair of Cirl Bunt- 
ings (Emberiza cirlus). The latter sang loudly, showing no 
exhaustion from his journey. 
I saw, too, a Serin Finch (Serinus hortulanus) and some 
Siskins (Chrysomitris spinus). 
There were certainly several other species, but I failed to 
identify them. They were all on the move northwards down 
the valley. Some hours later the place was silent and deserted. 
While I was watching, a small Grey Hawk which I took for 
a Merlin (Falco @salon) made a dash among the small birds. 
It caught nothing, and only scattered them for a moment. 
Further south up the river in some tall plane trees I met 
some Marsh Tits (Parus palustris). They were calling vigor- 
ously, and were in brilliant plumage. They looked to me 
larger than the British Marsh Tit, but this is difficult to say. 
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