272 
Mr. C. G. Danford on the 
birds, especially with Buntings (. Emberiza melanocephala and 
E. hortulana) and Warblers ( Sylvia orphea and Cossypha gut - 
turalis ). A fishing-excursion to the small lake of Kabat-geul 
resulted in the capture of sundry pike with dark purple fins 
and a lot of ordinary roach. Numbers of snakes were swim¬ 
ming about; and frogs and tortoises were in legions. Speci¬ 
mens of Great Sedge-Warblers, Spotted Flycatchers, and 
Penduline Tits were the additions to our collection. 
We left Kaisariyeh May 8th, and made a direct march north 
to Samsoun, on the Black Sea. At Erkelet and Kemer, the 
first villages on the way, flocks of Bee-eaters (. Merops api - 
aster) made their appearance, and a few Woodpeckers were 
seen, which we could neither shoot nor identify. They seemed, 
from their size, to be Ficus lilfordi; but the locality is an 
unlikely one for that species. Here were a few vineyards and 
orchards, and by the wayside grew patches of wild yellow 
roses and jasmines; but as the valley of the Kizil Irmak (Bed 
Biver) was neared the country became more barren. The 
river is dirty and rapid, and about eighty yards wide where 
it is crossed by the long stone bridge, at the north end of 
which is a singular-looking village. The houses are mostly 
excavated in the rocks; and it is very aptly called by the 
Turks “ Chock-guez ” (many eyes). 
Beyond this river the country as far as Aladja is, for the 
and stones. Here and there are miserable villages, with a 
little cultivation and a few small trees about them; and on 
the better pasture-lands one meets with large encampments 
of black Kurdish tents. 
In other districts there are plenty of flowers, especially in 
narrow defiles, where there is some shade from the fierce sun. 
In such places grow quantities of beautiful short-stalked 
irises of two colours (dull buff and maroon), gladioli, wild 
scentless mignonnette, a pale slate-coloured flax, large patches 
of convolvulus, the rare Ixiolirion montanum , and many 
other plants. Butterflies are very numerous, most of the 
European genera being well represented by only slightly 
varying forms. 
