14 
Major J. W. Yerbury on the Birds of 
3. Osprey. (Pandion haliaetus.) 
Another resident, though I fancy there are only three or 
four pairs in the whole peninsula. It breeds in the cliffs 
near the sea. The head, neck, and breast are white, the 
quills being darker. A pair frequent Steamer Point, and 
may be seen perched on the flagstaff in front of the Eastern 
Telegraph Co/s office, on the rails in front of the R.A. mess- 
house, and elsewhere, affording a good view of the birds. 
Inland, among other Hawks, one sees a very handsome 
Harrier, of a blue-grey colour with black tips to the wings. 
4. Kite. (? Milvus cegyptius.) 
A Kite, probably the above species, is also a resident. In 
Aden it breeds on the cliffs, inland on small trees. A nest 
containing two eggs was found by me in the month of Feb¬ 
ruary 1870 on a cliff near the sea. The eggs were very like 
those of the English Sparrow-Hawk in their markings. 
5. Barn-Owl. (Strix flammea.) 
I have only seen one Owl in Aden. It was caught in the 
R.A. barracks on the 29th of May, 1870, after a tremendous 
storm, and was presented to the Royal Artillery Institution 
at Woolwich. It was apparently the same as the English 
Barn-Owl. 
Owls of some sort are reported to frequent the neighbour¬ 
hood of the houses of the agents of the P. & O. and Messa- 
gerie Maritime Companies, but I have never seen them. 
An Owlet (Carine?) was seen near Lahej in some thick 
Zizyphus jungle, but only allowed me to get a fleeting glimpse. 
6. Swallow. (Hirundo rustica .) 
Visits Aden in rough weather ; it may come at any time 
of the year, but only remains a few days. 
f7. Pale Crag-Martin. (Cotile obsoleta.) 
A Crag-Martin is with us all the year round; it breeds in 
the caves. 
[Major Yerbury sent me a skin of this bird, which is now 
recorded from a perfectly new locality for this species.— 
R. B. S.] 
