late Arctic Expedition, and a corresponding member of the Society. Disco is an island about sixty miles in length, lying to the west of Mid Greenland, on the 70th parallel of north latitude. The centre of the island is covered with a sheet of ice like the opposite coast, but the belt of cleared land of varying width lying all round its margin has been pretty well explored. The rocks are chiefly trappean, of later age, overlying the primary and metamorphic strata. On the east there are considerable tracts of tertiary strata, which have yielded, along with those of the opposite shores, a large number of fossil plants of Miocene age. Coal has been found in many places in the shape of a lignite giving off little heat, but burning well when mixed with a more bituminous variety. Graphite is also found in some abundance. The collection of plants is of considerable interest, containing, as it does, a good number of species common in our own neighbourhood, such as Alchemilla vulgaris, Equisetum arvense, Veronica hederifolia, etc.; while the grasses are represented by Poa pratensis, Aira flexuosa, Festuca ovina, and Alepocurus pratensis. Plants, whose habitats are the moors and mosses, are also present, examples occurring of Eriophorum, Botrychium, Carex, and Juncus; and as indicating more upland stations there are specimens of Antennaria dioica, Gnaphalium sylvaticum, Lycopodium Selago, etc. Two species of willow occur, one of which seems to be Salir pentandra, which often becomes a tree of considerable size, and not of a shrubby character like many of our willows. Sub-alpine species occur, such as Cerastium alpinum, a plant found on Goatfell, and Sibbaldia procumbens, which grows plentifully on the top of Benlomond. A large number are duplicates of our true Alpine plants found on the lofty Highland mountains, such as Azalia procumbens, Thalictrum alpinum, Epilobium alpinum, Toffieldia palustris, Woodsia Ilvensis, and Veronica alpina. There are specimens also of other boreal plants not found in this country but common in Norway, as Pedicularis lapponica, Andromeda tetragonum, and many others well known on the Dovre fjeld. The collection was made by Captain Feilden on the outward voyage of the Alert and Discovery, on 13th July, 1876, and consists of upwards of seventy species. As this represents the result of only one day's botanising, we may consider that a complete list of the plants of the island would show that Disco can give a good representation of the flora of northern countries.

PAPER READ.

"The Avi-fauna of the Ural," translated from the Russian* of Leonida Sabanäeff, by Mr F. C. CRAEMERS, and communicated by Mr JOHN A. HARVIE-BROWN, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.

The following translation from the Russian was prepared for the private use of Mr H. E. Dresser, for quotation in his work on the "Birds of Europe"; and for Mr Henry Seebohm. To these gentlemen the members of the Society are indebted for liberally placing the MS. at their disposal. As it is the only full and connected account we have of the birds of the district, it cannot fail to have considerable interest to students of Geographical Distribution.-J. A. H.-B.

Gyps fulvus, (Gm.) Is a breeding species as far as the Kaslinsky Ural, and migrates sometimes as far north as 59° N. lat.-Pavdinskaya Dacha. Russian, Bolshoy belogolovey bertuk.

Falco subbuteo, L. Common everywhere, but is particularly numerous in the birch woods on the western slopes of the Ekaterinburg Ural. Bashkire, Belogorlek; Meschersky, Igalbai; Zirián, Kania-varish.

Falco peregrinus, Tunstall. Inhabits only the mountains and their valleys. Russ., Socol; Bashk., Etelge; (Pallas calls the female by that name, but the male Shoukar. Voyages, T.S., fol. 25).

Falco lanarius, L.t I found this species in the Ural as well as in the steppes, but it is not so numerous as the preceding species. In the Kamishloff and Shadrinsk districts, only this species occurs. Bashk., Losson.

Falco gyrfalco, L. Is not so common as the two preceding species, being most numerous on the western slopes of the Ural mountains, about Uffa and Chusova, and in the northern parts of the Perm Ural. Russ., Kretchet, Beley Socol; Bashk. and Zirián, Pelk-varish.

Falco aesalon, Tunstall. Is rarer than F. subbuteo, and I never observed it north of 57° N. lat. ‡

* "Preavaritelnoi Oscherk Faunoi Posvonoschnoech Slednyago OOrala," by Leonida Sabanäeff (Bull. Mosc. xlii., 1870, pp. 185-197).

+ I believe this to be Falco sacer, not F. lanarius.-H. E. D.

It is very difficult to decide the question of how far north and south the range of this species extends. It is not common in Central Russia, although it occasionally breeds in the Governments of Jaroslav and Moscow. Teplouhoff found it about 574° N. lat. Mejakoff (Bull, Mosc., 1856, No. iv., p. 627),

Falco vespertinus, L. Is very common in the birch woods and groves in the south-eastern parts of the Ekaterinburg and Shadrinsk districts, and does not appear to occur here north of the first-named town. Bashk., Si.

The Ural Expedition did not find it on the western declivity higher than 58° N. lat. ("Das nordliche Ural," etc. Supplement, p. 61). Teplouhoff informs me that this species is abundant in 58° N. lat., and probably breeds there. According to Mejakoff

it is not scarce in the south-west of the Government of Vologda, and Lilljeborg ('Naumannia,' Band II., Theil ii.) states that he observed it in large woods on the Dwina, and that it is very plentiful about Kargopol.*

Falco tinnunculus, L. Is found throughout the Perm Government as high as 59° or 60° N. lat. To the southwards it increases in numbers, and becomes numerous in the birch woods of the Black-earth tract. Russ., Triasuchka; Bashk., Kingunak; Zirián, Teuseau-varish.

Obs. Falco cenchris, Naum., is probably to be met with in the Shadrinsk steppes and about Cheliabiansk, and Eversmann's opinion that it does not occur in the northern parts of Orenburg, is very much to be doubted. (Eversm. Nat. Hist. of the Orenburg Province, T.S., p. 65). Middendorff met with it on the Boganida. (Sibirische Reise, Band II., Theil ii., p. 28). Pandion haliaëtus, (L.) Occurs throughout the Province, but usually keeps about the lakes, which abound with fish in the Ekaterinburg and Shadrinsk districts; in the latter place breeding in almost woodless localities. Russ., Scopa; Bashk., Kalmergau; Zirián, Chare-varish.

Pernis apivorus, (L.) Occurs up to 58° N. lat. (Tagill), but is rare, although it breeds there.

Obs. It is a breeding species in the Jaroslav and Moscow Governments, and therefore it is rather surprising that it does not occur about Kasan. (Eversm., op. cit. 46, and Bogdanoff--Birds and Animals of the Volga, p. 42). According to Erman (Reise,

affirms that it is not rare in the south-west parts of the Government of Vologda. According to Middendorff (Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Russ. Reiches, Part VIII., p. 201) it is not rare in Lapland. (Seebohm and I found it as far north as 65° 26' N. lat., at Ust Zylma.-J. A. H.-B.)

* (Alston and I found them numerous at Kargopol, in June, 1872, sitting on the telegraph wires along the road.-J. A. H.-B.)

p. 30) it inhabits Shadrinsk; and Nordmann states (Bull. Mosc., 1860, No. 1, p. 6) that it is not rare in Finland. Lilljeborg (l.c.) found it at Ladienopole and on the northern Dwina.

Buteo vulgaris, Leach. Very common in the Western Ural as far as 59° N. lat. In the birch woods of the eastern slopes of the Ekaterinburg Ural it is scarce, and does not occur about Shadrinsk. Russ., Dikey Jastreb; Bashk., Sar.

Buteo lagopus, (Gm.) Most likely it breeds on the steppes of Shadrinsk, and from that occasionally visits the south-eastern parts of the Ekaterinburg district. Russ., Bolshay-misheloff.

Obs. Further north it again appears in the Ural mountains; Hoffmann, Brandt (l.c.)*

Aquila pennata, Gm. From the Severtsk Ural, 59° N. lat., its range extends through Kaslinskaya and Keshtemskaya Dacha to the birch woods of the western slopes of the Ural. In none of the above localities is it common. Russ., Teternik.

Aquila clanga, (Pall.) Common everywhere as far north as 58° N. lat. Then, however, it becomes scarce, and does not occur further north than Bogoslaffsk. It is also common in the birch woods of the western slope of the Ekaterinburg Ural, but is scarce further east.

Koudosmer-varish.

Russ., Podorlik; Bashk., Karagush; Zirián,

Aquila nobilis, Pall.+ Is common on all the wooded parts of the Perm Ural, and perhaps it occurs even at Bogoslaffsk. Russ., Berkut; Bashk., Burkut.

Aquila chrysaëtus, (L.) This species appears to inhabit the south and south-eastern parts of the Perm Ural, but I cannot make this statement with certainty, as I rely only on the sportsmen, who call it either red, brown, or long-tailed. In Uffa they name Aquila Bonellii (1), the smaller bird with a long tail. According to N. A. Severtzoff, Aquila pennata occurs also in the Tver Province.

Aquila imperialis, Bechst. Inhabits the southern parts of Perm, with the exception of the steppes, in which latter it occurs only in spring and autumn. It does not occur far beyond Ekaterinburg, where it occasionally breeds, according to Martin.

Haliaëtus albicilla, (L.) Has a wide distribution, and occurs

*(Seebohm and I found it as far north as 66° 13' N. lat., on the Petchora.— J. A. H.-B.)

+(For remarks on this form, see "Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist.," 1877, p. 201.-J. A. H.-B.)

throughout the Government of Perm, except in the woodless localities. Russ., Belochvost (everywhere Orel); Bashk., Kusagan, Sulgash (1); Zirián, Varesh.

Obs. According to Pallas (Zoog. Rosso. Asiat., vol. i., p. 341), Solgosh is Aquila chrysaëtus.

Milvus regalis, Briss. I can positively state that I have seen several Red Kites amongst hundreds of Milvus ater, flying towards some dead animals in the Kaslinsky Ural.

Milvus ater, (Gm.) Is common throughout the Government of Perm. Russ., Korshen; in some parts Tsepliatnic; Bashk., Tiulugan; Zirián, Tsipan-varesh.

Milvus glaucopus, Eversm. This is most likely only a variety of the preceding species. I met with it in the Kaslinsky Ural, where it is commoner than Milvus regalis, but not so common as Milvus ater.

Astur palumbarius, (L.) Occurs throughout Perm wherever woods are to be found. Russ., Jastreb; Bashk. and Mestshersk, Karsaga; Zirián, Tupiur.

Astur nisus, (L.) Occurs throughout Perm, but is not so numerous as the preceding species. Russ., Jastrebok; Bashk., Kuger; Zirián, Chungun.

Circus cyaneus, (L.) Everywhere, but more abundant in open places. Russ., Mishelovka; Bashk., Bieliala; Zirián, Vesiasche ?varesh.

Circus cineraceus, (Montagu). Not known how far north it ranges, but it certainly occurs about Ekaterinburg. In the Ural it is found usually in plains close to rivers. Very common in the Perm steppes.

Obs. Eversmann (op. cit., p. 8) says that it does not occur in Kasan Province, but according to Bogdanoff it has been obtained there (op. cit., p. 51). Eversmann does not mention C. pallidus, but Bogdanoff found the latter in the Belasheff district.

Circus pallidus, Sykes. I think I saw this species in the Bashkir district, at the boundary of the Shadrinsk and Ekaterinburg districts.

Circus aeruginosus, (L.) Is very common on the lakes of the eastern slope of the Ural, but is very scarce about Ekaterinburg. Teplouhoff, however, found it plentifully on the river Obva (Perm Government), about 57° N. lat. Russ., Kameshnick; Bashk., Kameshkara.