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THE BIRDS OF SARDIS, ASIA MINOR. 101 
A pair of Green Sandpipers (Totanus ochropus) enlivened one 
little bay with their clear note and swift flight, and were 
conspicuous with their dark, metallic plumage and white rumps. 
Dabchicks (Podicipes fluviatilis) were in fair numbers, appearing 
and disappearing among the reeds. 
Coots (Fulica atra) and Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) were 
abundant. Some Herons (Ardea cinerea) occasionally rose from 
out of the reed bed, flapped round and dropped again out of sight. 
Marsh Harriers (Circus @ruginosus) circled without ceasing 
just above the tops of the reeds. 
I saw a Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) at a great 
height. It has a fine, strong flight. This is the species ‘‘ for- 
merly inhabiting and (as shown by the remains of the young) 
breeding in England. Bones have been found in the peat of 
the Fens of the Bedford level, and in considerable numbers at 
Glastonbury, in Somerset.’’ I saw several others on the water 
when we rowed to the middle of the lake. We thought our- 
selves lucky to come across a fishing-boat, but there was less to 
be seen from it than from the shore. I think there was a Swan 
(species unknown) at a great distance, and a large Warbler flew 
jerkily in and out of the reeds. The boat was packed with 
huge Carp with a most muddy smell, and we were glad to be 
landed. 
Towards the west Gulls in large flocks flew over the water, 
but I could not get near them to say what species. 
In some blackberry bushes on the shore were about twenty 
Purple-winged Starlings (Sturnus purpurascens). They flew in 
complete silence from bush to bush. 
On our ride home we came across many flocks, large and 
small, of Larks. Some were certainly Calandra Larks (Melano- 
corypha calandra). Two Snipe (Gallinago celestis) were flushed 
from a bog in the plain. A few Black-headed Gulls were on the 
Hermus. 
March 23rd.—The first Stonechat (Saxicola enanthe) arrived 
to-day. With it was a Redstart (Ruticilla phenicurus). 
March 24th.—A good sight of Ehrenberg’s Redstart (Ruticilla 
mesoleuca). The white wing patch makes it easy to recognize. 
March 26th.—The first Swallow (Hirundo rustica) skimmed 
the Pactolus. At Kassaba station House-Martins (Chelidon 
