observed in the Ionian Islands, ^c. 341 



hawks, 1 Barred Woodpecker, and 1 Red-crested Whistling Duck. 

 My companions complained bitterly, saying that it was not worth 

 the trouble of coming over for such a paltry bag, and vowing 

 that they would put up their guns till the weather improved. 

 Now it struck me that the Woodcocks had been flooded out of 

 the wood which we had beaten, and would probably be found on 

 the hills in thicker covert, where they could avoid the drip of the 

 trees ; and so it proved, as on the next expedition in which I 

 joined, on which occasion we were bent on the slaughter of Wild 

 Boars and Roedeer, we flushed great numbers of Woodcocks on 

 the hill-sides, in the steepest places and most impenetrable 

 thickets. Forty and fifty couple of Woodcocks had been killed 

 in November 1856, on several occasions, by two guns. The 

 weather improved about the beginning of February 1857, and 

 the Cocks came down again into the valleys, where we allowed 

 them but little peace, and used to bag from ten to fifteen couple 

 frequently, till the end of March, when they left the country. 

 To myself, the great charm of shooting in these countries con- 

 sists in the variety of birds to be observed, and the power of 

 roaming about in every direction, through a beautiful country, 

 without let or hindrance. To show in some degree the variety 

 of sport to be met with, I subjoin a few extracts from my game- 

 book. Our party consisted generally of myself and two friends. 

 February 8th, 1857, 24 Woodcocks, 1 Hare, 2 Bitterns, 1 Marten 

 Cat ; — 9th, 20 Woodcocks, 2 Golden-eyes, 1 Snipe ; — 10th, 38 

 Woodcocks, 1 Hare, 4 Snipes ; — 26th, 14 Woodcocks, 5 Teal, 

 3 Snipes, 1 Hare, 1 Water Rail ;— March 5th, 31 Woodcocks, 

 1 Otter, 1 Picus leuconotus; — 11th, 2 Woodcocks, 1 Duck, 1 Teal, 



1 Garganey, 1 Snipe. 



The above sport, with the exception of the 10th of February, 

 occurred in the valley of Vrana, from the anchorages of Butrinto, 

 Kataito, and Pagania : on the 10th of February we shot from 

 Santa Quaranta. In the Gulf of Arta, from about the 14th till 

 the 1 8th of March, our party of five bagged 204 head, including 



2 Roedeer, about 80 Woodcocks, 12 Hares, Wild Ducks, 

 Shovellers, Teal, Garganey, 3 Wood Pigeons, Gadwall, Pochard, 

 Tufted Duck, 1 Solitary Snipe, Common and Jack Snipes, 

 Bitterns, Grey Plover, Water Rails, Spotted Rails, Black-tailed 



