156 MEDITERRANEAN NOTES 



along the coast on both sides of the straits. Took cutter 

 and went round to the caves and holes in the clifF, about 

 Capo Sant' Andrea, where many pigeons are reported, but 

 where few seem to exist. 



" We sailed for Catania about 1 1 a.m., light airs^ 

 of wind and heavy swell, and did not get into Catania 

 till about 6 p.m. The whole coast, with grand views of 

 Etna, very fine indeed. The harbour of Catania is small 

 and crowded, exposed to south winds, but pretty secure 

 from all other quarters." 



Catania 



'■'■March i^th. Beautiful day. My 41st birthday;, 

 they dressed ship for me. We went ashore and tried in 

 vain to see the Biscari Museum, which is shut up at present. 

 In the market a great many fish and some birds. Catania 

 is a fine town, with wide streets well paved with lava, 

 and an air of prosperity about it, and not so many beggars 

 as usual in Italian cities. Went up to the old convent of 

 the Benedittini, an immense building with some splendid 

 marbles in the church and a fine library and small 

 museum of antiquities. Curious picture (date 1536) ot 

 a saint with a white-headed duck i^Anas leucocephala) and 

 a common francolin {Francolinus vulgaris).* No artist's- 

 name. Saint being fed by an angel." 



* The francolins are allied to the partridges. FrancoUnus vulgaris: 

 is the Common Francolin of Europe. 



