216 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



altitudes, even up to the snow-line. The typical form sometimes 

 occurs in the alpine meadows in the early part of the summer, 

 but later in the season goes down to the forests to collect the 

 ripening fruits — apples, plums, pears, and raspberries — which 

 are grateful to his sweet tooth. 



At Ananur there are the ruins of a fine old castle ; it was 

 built by the Georgian eristav, or governor, in 1704. Thirty-five 

 years later there were bloody scenes here : the eristav of Ksan, 

 who had some quarrel with the men of the Aragva, enlisted the 

 help of the Lesghians, and attacked Ananur ; the eristav — 

 Bardzim — shut himself in, but, after an obstinate struggle, the 

 invaders carried the day, and killed Bardzim, and exterminated 

 his family root and branch. 



Beyond Ananur the country opens out into a green and 

 smiling hilly district, recalling parts of England. But for the 

 glimpse of a picturesque native with a buffalo, or of a team of 

 sixteen oxen ploughing, the traveller could imagine himself in 

 parts of Kent or Hereford. In this district, from Ananur past 

 Dushet to Mtskhet, Kestrels, Jays, Grey Shrikes, and Hoopoes 

 (udol) are common ; the only places where I saw Blackbirds 

 were near Mlety and near Ananur ; these were probably Merula 

 uierula aterrima, Mad., as the typical form is said to occur only 

 in winter. The Aragva joins the Kura at Mtskhet, the ancient 

 capital of the Georgian tsars, and here the road turns sharply to 

 the west, and follows the Kura to Tiflis. Along this sun-baked 

 valley, many species of birds make use of the telegraph wires as 

 a convenient perch ; grateful ornithologists should erect a statue 

 to their inventor. Turtle-doves are not too big to balance on 

 this slender foothold, but the blatant Boiler (sivo?, or sizo- 

 voronka), Coracias garrulus caucasicus, has some difficulty in 

 keeping his balance. Eagles, of course, cannot manage it, but 

 I saw a pair (probably Aquila fulva or A. imperialis) effect a 

 compromise near Passanaur, by sitting on the poles, which is 

 much the same thing. The Bee-eater (shchttirka), Merops 

 apiaster, L., is particularly fond of this strategic position, which 

 gives him a good view round for hawking passing insects, after 

 which he springs with a singularly graceful dive ; these are very 

 elegant birds, but it is very noticeable how the brilliant 

 coloration pales in the dazzling sunlight, so that they often 



