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GENERAL REMARKS ON THE PENINSULA

flirew-moufe inhabits the banks of the Beeyouk-Oufehen,and is feldom feen in other places. The large grey houfe-rat, and the common moufe, multiply rapidly; but the blackrat has not hitherto appeared ; and of field-mice, we noticedonly the common yellowifh fpecies.—In the fea, fmall fealsand dolphins are frequent.

Of birds alfo, the Crimea has neither any great variety norabundance. Eagles never build their nefts here; but thecommon black vultures are frequent; and, efpecially in wintereboldly enter the plains in fearch of carcafes. Thefe birds arefometimes accompanied by a fmall white fpecies of vulture,with black wings, and a bald head of a perfectly citron-yellowcolour: it has not hitherto been defcribed, and is probably anative of Anatolia. The migrating falcon rarely fettles on themountains; but the hawk, kite, and fome fmall birds of prey,are rather numerous. The fmall owl, both with and withoutears, as well as the fmall-headed fcreech owl, are alike commonin the vallies; but the great horned owl is more rare. Thegrey royfton crow, the magpie, the blue crow, and the jack-daw, are frequent, and remain in the country throughout thewinter. The feathers of the laft-mentioned bird poffefs anextraordinary luftre; and in its nefts, particularly on the banksof the Salgir, young ones are often found perfedtly white.On the other hand, field-crows never appear, and ravens arevery fcarce. Starlings, indeed, were formerly feen in largeflights; but, for fome years paft, their number has diminifhed :which circumftance, perhaps, may alfo account for the greatincreafe of locufts. Thrufhes pafs through the country inautumn; but the black-bird remains, and builds its neft in

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