The Birds of the Assyrian Monuments and Records. 57 
Many kinds of herons (Ardeidai) abound, such as the 
buff-heron, or " cow-bird" (Ardea russata), so-called from its 
association with cattle and sheep, like our common starling 
— a habit noticed in the bird lists. The common heron 
(A. cinerea), white heron or egret (A. alba), the little egret 
{A. garzetta), bitterns both small and great (Botaurus stellaris 
and B. minutus), have been noticed. 
Spoonbills (Plataleidw) are found on the shores of the 
Caspian. The order Anseres is represented by numerous 
families, and the species often occur in amazing numbers 
on migration. Of the Phoenicopterw, the Flamingo (P. 
antiquorwri) is seen in marshy places, and said to be common 
on the shores of the Caspian. A curious story of this bird 
has been recorded which I will notice further on. Of the 
Anatidm, or duck family, the common wild-duck, teal, pochard 
(several species), pintail, golden-eye, shell-drake, ruddy shell- 
drake ; wild-geese, as the white-fronted, bernicle, and red- 
breasted species, have been mentioned as occurring in 
various localities, but only on passage. Dr. Ainsworth says 
that ducks and geese are little cared for, and rarely domesti- 
cated by the Mahometans. 
Swans abound on the Caspian in winter, and, in some 
localities, thousands are sometimes to be seen, represented by 
the two species, viz., Cygnus ferus and perhaps C. olor. The 
Assyrians ornamented the ends of their bows with the 
heads of swans, as represented on the monuments. Probably 
they domesticated these birds, and ate their flesh and their 
eggs. Of the Laridw several sea-gulls are found, especially 
on the Caspian and the Persian Gulf. The commonest 
species are said to be the Larus canus and the L. ridibundus. 
Some kinds are quite tame, and fearlessly approach the 
fishermen's boats on the shore, or even enter villages. The 
large black-headed gull, sometimes called the Royal Eagle- 
gull (L. ichthyaetus), the most magnificent of the Laridce, is 
found throughout the southern coasts of Persia in winter, 
resorting to the Caspian, where it breeds, in the summer. 
Dr. Tristram noticed this gull on the Sea of Galilee, where he 
found it quite tame ; whereas Mr. Blanford speaks of it in 
the Caspian as being difficult of approach. Several species 
