4fi4 On Birds in South Russia. [Ibis, 
nest containing nine eggs in various stages of: incubation 
was found on 15 May in the roof of a peasant’s hut, nearly 
all the tiles having been removed in the process of search, 
much to the disgust of the owner, who was only pacified by 
an assurance that his name would be entered on the data label. 
In the marshes and on the sandbanks of the north great 
numbers of Terns and Gulls breed ; eggs of the Slender- 
billed Gull (Lams gelastes ) were obtained at Arabat. The 
Great Black-headed Gull (Larus ichthyaetus) was frequently 
seen flying over the Putrid Sea. Other birds noted in the 
marshes were the Avocet, Lapwing, Garganey, and a 
species of Harrier which was nesting near Hjankoi. 
I was given some Eagle’s eggs taken on 20. iv. 20 by 
Lieut. Martino, who had assigned them to “ the form of 
Imperial Eagle without a white marking on the shoulder.” 
It appears possible that they are eggs of the Steppe Eagle. 
The nest was in a tree some 30 feet from the ground in a 
valley of the Mackenzie Heights, and the birds had built 
in the same locality for several years. The chief food of 
the Eagle was described as consisting of “ sushliks,” the 
common rodents of the steppes. 
Eggs were also obtained of the following :—Greenfinch, 
Chaffinch, Bed-backed Shrike, Calandra Lark, White-winged 
Lark, Jay, Hooded Crow, Starling, Blackbird, Song-Thrush. 
Magpie, Mistle-Thrush, Blue Tit, Longtailed Tit. 
In conclusion, I may perhaps be permitted to set down a 
note from my diary which throws a gleam of light on ancient 
days. Falconry appears to be a lost art in the Crimea, but 
it was once a favourite pastime of the Tartar Khan, whose 
palace is still to be seen in good repair at Bahkchi-Serai, 
The following story was related to me by the Circassian 
Sergeant—a fine tall fellow, distinguished by his long and 
fierce moustache and bright scarlet breeches—who was chief 
of the body-guard of a Russian General to whose staff I was 
attached for some time. One of his ancestors was the Khan’s 
Chief Falconer. In the royal mews was a pair of rare and 
valued Falcons of exceeding courage and swiftness of flight, 
which the Khan had procured at great trouble and expense 
from an eastern land. It came to pass that, one morning, 
