MEDITERRANEAN NOTES 157 



" In the market of Catania saw Fulica atra in some quantities, one 

 Porphyria, Machetes pugnax. Anas boscas, A. querquedula, Mareca 

 penelope, Fuligula rufina, Scolopax gallinago. A great many calan- 

 dras in cages, and greenfinches, goldfinches, serins, and linnets in 

 the live bird market. Not a great many gulls in the harbours. 

 Great quantities of fish of many species in the market — mullet, 

 tench, and eels from Lentini, and endless varieties of sea fish. In 

 the gardens of the Benedittini convent were many Passer salickolus, 

 Fringilla carduelis and F. Moris and many lizards ; I think L. 

 muralis. They call the Porphyria ' Faccianu,' i.e. pheasant." 



'■^ March i()th. Went to see the Botanical and Zoo- 

 logical Gardens ; at the latter there are a {qw beasts and 

 birds. Tried fishing just out of the harbour and caught 

 a few very small fish." 



'^ March 20th. Drove out to Nicolosi, about twelve 

 miles ; the whole country a mass of lava, well cultivated ; 

 olives, carobs, vines, oranges and lemons, wheat, prickly 

 pear, lupins, etc. Round Nicolosi lies a frightful waste 

 of black lava, with here and there scrub oaks, squills, and 

 other shrubs, with a good deal of Spanish broom. We 

 took mules and rode up to the Monte Rossi — an old 

 crater, whence there is a splendid view of Etna and the 

 whole plain of Catania. Very few birds." 



"March 2isi. Beautiful day. We took the cutter 

 and went away to the mouth of a canal about eight or 

 ten miles to the S.W. Fine sheets of water and marshes 

 and sandhills. A great many birds. I cannot v/alk and 

 M cannot shoot, so we did not do much." 



