462 Lieut. J. N. Kennedy on [Ibis, 
sea for miles on every hand, and carpeted in spring with 
tulips and poppies of every hue. In the north, along the 
shores of the Putrid Sea (deriving its name from an 
unpleasant odour, chiefly noticeable during a breeze and 
due to its stagnant and enclosed nature), lie great marshes— 
the haunt of Duck and Waders. Here there are banks 
and islands which are the nesting haunts of innumerable 
sea-birds. 
My bird-notes from the Crimea are of the scantiest, but 
perhaps a few remarks may be of interest. I was there from 
April to June, 1920. 
I am not a geologist, but I will set down the following 
theoryof geological history which was described to me by 
Russians there, as it will, if correct, be of interest to orni¬ 
thologists. The hypothesis is that in the remote past the 
Crimean Mountains were a prolongation of the Caucasus 
range, and that they were subsequently cut off by the sea, 
and formed an island for some time. It was presumably 
during this period that island forms of life developed charac¬ 
teristics which have persisted to the present day, even after 
the uplift of the Crimean steppes which have formed a 
junction with the mainland to the north. It would there¬ 
fore appear that the hill district in the south is the true 
home of subspecies peculiar to the Crimea. 
Lieut. Martino indicated the following subspecific forms 
as not yet having been described owing to lack of complete 
series of specimens, and I feel sure he would have no 
objection to my making his suggestions more widely 
known :— 
Astur palumbarius (subsp. ?). 
Regulus cristatus (subsp. ?). 
Accentor niodularis (subsp. ?). 
Ardea cinerea (subsp. ?). 
Jjoxia curvirostris (subsp.?). 
Ruticilla mesoleuca (subsp. ?). 
Motacilla boarula (subsp. ?). 
Turdus merula (subsp.?). 
I retain his own nomenclature. 
