Mr. W. H. Simpson's Ornitliolugical Notes. 279 



XXXV. — Ornithological Notes from Mesolonghi and Southern 

 Italia. By W. H. Simpson, M.A., F.Z.S. 



The two great rivers of \Yestern Greece, the Aspro-potamo {Ache- 

 loiis) and the Phidaris [Evenus), which drain the highlands of 

 iEtolia and a portion of the more distant Epirus, finally emerge 

 from the mountains at either extremity of the range anciently 

 called AracyntJius, though now a variety of names are assigned 

 to particular blocks of that mountain. The alluvial deposits 

 from these two rivers, more especially from the Aspro-potamo, 

 whose volume of water is very great, appear to have formed in 

 the course of ages the extensive tract of low marshy ground 

 which constitutes the south-west angle of Continental Greece. 

 This district is unequally divided by the great lagoon of Meso- 

 longhi, which, having an average depth of less than four feet, may 

 be justly considered as forming a part of the great alluvial tract 

 those rivers have deposited in the deep waters of the Ionian Sea. 

 The lagoon is studded with groups of flat muddy islets, and is 

 protected from the sea itself by a sandy spit many miles in 

 length, and, where this terminates, by a chain of small islands 

 of a similar character. Towards the east, where the vulture- 

 haunted cliffs of Mount Varassovo [Chalkis] mark the limits of 

 the plain in this direction, the Phidaris has already, within the 

 historic period, extended its own delta by filling up several small 

 lakes. The lower portions of this delta constitute at present a 

 damp jungle, very difficult to penetrate, which is full of tall 

 poplars, willows, and plane trees, and where the water is up to 

 the ankles or the neck, according to the state of the river. This 

 jungle was probably the haunt of the Calydonian boars, as the 

 ruins of Calydon, the ancient capital of iEtolia, are on the slope 

 of jMount Aracynthus, just over the spot where the river emerges 

 into the low grounds. From these rviins it is about two hours' 

 walk to the town of Mesolonghi, through a fertile and partially 

 cultivated plain. 



The town itself is on a flat peninsula, almost flush w ith the 

 lagoon, and cut ofi" from the mainland by a muddy ditch, which 

 is a favourite resort for Tringa suharquata and other small waders 

 during the spring migration ; Charadrius cantianus may fi-c- 



