460

GENERAL REMARKS ON THE PENINSULA

in the Crimea; nor does the ftork vifit that peninfula: on thecontrary, the fmall crane, called the Numidian virgin, is veryfrequent, and conftructs its neft in open plains, chiefly in thevicinity of falt-lakes. The young birds are brought to marketby the Tartars in great numbers, and are fpeedily tamed, info-much that they afterwards breed even in farm-yards. Grey,red, and white herons, as well as the fmall tree and night herons,are not uncommon. The lapwing, the woodfnipe, or Tolanus yand two fpecies of marfh-fnipes, vifit this country only at thetime of their pafläge, and remain here tili the froft compelsthem to retire. The great buftard is feen in large flights,efpecially during the winter, when it fnows and freezes: thus,pieces of ice become attached to its wings, and the feathers ofits crop; fo that the bird is unable in the fnow to take therun previous to its flying, in confequence of which many arecaught by the hand, or by means of dogs, and are broughtto market alive. The experiment of rearing young buftardshas repeatedly been attended with fuccefs: they become verytarne, but never hatch their eggs. The fmall buftard feldomoccurs.

There are but few ferpents in the Crimea, probably be-caufe the fmall cranes deftroy them, as well as mice ; thoughthe large dart, or Coluber Jaculator, is rather common in themountains; but the adder and viper are extremely rare. Oflizards, there are found in the mountains, the Lacerta apoda(in the Tartar language St/boka), which I have defcribed inthe Memoirs of the Academy of St. Peterfburgh: farther, afmall lizard very numerous between rocks; it is flender, withbrownifh or black fpots on the back, of a flame-yellow colouron the lower nde, and frequently with a green ftripe over the

fhoulders: