406 
Mr. F. C. Selous on 
discovered the nest of a Black-eared Wheatear (Saxicola 
albicollis) in a crevice of an old stone wall, just ready for 
eggs, and when quite close to Bournabat we were shown the 
nest of a Crested Lark (Galerita cristata) by a shepherd- 
boy. This nest contained four eggs which were much incu¬ 
bated. It was placed in a field of standing corn, in a 
depression of the ground, and closely resembled the nest of a 
Sky-Lark. Among the many birds we saw during our walk, 
Boilers (Coracias garrulus), Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster), and 
Black-headed Buntings (Emberiza melanocephala) were the 
most noticeable from their conspicuous plumage. The males 
of the last species, in full nuptial dress, were very abundant 
and very tame, and when sitting on a bush or a small olive- 
tree, with throat swelled out and in full song, would allow 
one to approach within a few yards of them without taking 
alarm. Besides the Woodchat-Shrikes, which were very 
common, we also saw several Masked Shrikes (Lanius 
nubicus). I could not identify all the Warblers I saw, but 
I recognized the Orphean Warbler (Sylvia orphcea), which is, 
I think, a common species in this district of Asia Minor. 
On the following day, May 6th, I went in Mr. W- ’s 
launch to a place on the coast, a few miles from Smyrna, 
where salt is made by flooding shallow mud-pans with sea¬ 
water and then allowing the water to evaporate by the heat 
of the sun. Here are some small flat islands, standing in 
very shallow water, where many birds breed. But it was 
still too early in the season for eggs. I saw Common, Lesser, 
and Gull-billed Terns, Pratincoles and Kentish Plovers, and 
also great numbers of Black-headed Wagtails (Motacilla 
melanocephala) ; but I found only one nest of the Kentish 
Plover (JEgialitis cantiana ), with three eggs a good deal 
incubated, and also saw a young one in down of the same 
species just hatched out. These were probably two early 
nests, and I feel sure that the Terns, Pratincoles, and most of 
the Kentish Plovers had not yet laid. On our way to the 
salt-works we saw many Mediterranean Black-headed Gulls 
(Larus melanocephalus) and a few Yellow-legged Herring- 
Gulls [L. cachinnans). 
