of Western Greece. 383 



which it utters. No other species of Owl is abundant iu the 

 district round Mesolonghi, though the southern variety of Bubo 

 maximus breeds in the rocks of Aracynthus. The immense forests 

 which clothe the ravines on the northern side of that mountain 

 may contain several species, and possibly Scops zorca, in plenty. 

 Dismissing the Raptores, we will now consider a few of the 

 more obvious of the Insessorial birds which frequent the low 

 grounds on both sides of the Gulf of Patras. Besides the regu- 

 lar migrants, which, coming from Northern and Central Europe, 

 hybernate in the plains of alltolia and Acarnania, and the oppo- 

 site shores of Northern Elis, there are large flocks of local 

 migrants, coming from the high grounds or from the colder 

 regions of Albania and Epirus, which spend the winter in these 

 low and comparatively sheltered regions. First of all, in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of Mesolonghi, immense quantities of 

 Larks are to be seen. Alauda calandra is especially numerous. 

 A sportsman of the true French school might here indulge in his 

 favourite chasse to any extent. Numbers winter here, changing 

 their quarters in the spring ; though some remain to breed, their 

 nests being discovered together with those of A. hrachydactyla, 

 whose eggs are very frequently brought in by the gamins of the 

 place. A. cristata is sparingly but more universally distributed 

 throughout the entire district, being often found duriug winter 

 in small flocks with A. arborea, though not much on the ^tolian 

 side. A. arvensis, too, is common enough in the wintei', but dis- 

 appears from the neighbourhood of Mesolonghi as spring ap- 

 proaches. Next in number, after the Larks, come the Finches. 

 The Goldfinch, Linnet, and Gi'eenfinch [F. carduelis, cannabina, 

 and cliloris) are to be found in great quantities : many other 

 Finches are doubtless mixed with them ; but these three species, 

 either singly or together, form the bulk of the flocks which are 

 always to be met with in the low grounds and at the base of 

 the mountains. The Common Starling, too, collects in im- 

 mense flocks just as at home, and breaks down the reeds as it 

 formerly did in the fens of Huntingdonshire. Here no one takes 

 the trouble to scare them, and yet they always seem a long time 

 in making up their minds where they will ultimately take up 

 their quarters for the night. One of the favoured places was in 



