IG Lord Lilford's Cruise in the Mediterranean. 



impossible, to shove a boat along. I found one nest of this 

 bird exaetly resembling, and not conspicuously larger than, 

 that of our common Waterhen [Gallinula chloropus), which 

 is extremely abundant here. This nest was placed on the 

 water in a thick mass of growing flags, and contained one 

 egg; this was on March 31st. The Spotted, Baillon's, and 

 Little Crakes are all common, the former very abundant ; and 

 we also found several Water- Rails {Rallus aquaticus) . Besides 

 the Ducks above mentioned, I observed the White-eyed Po- 

 chard {Fuligula nyroca) in great numbers, and shot several 

 specimens ; and Gadwalls and Shovellers were also pretty 

 common. I have no doubt that Anas boschas, A. clypeata, 

 A. strepera, Branta rufina, and Fuligula nyroca breed in 

 these marshes, possibly also Anas querquedula, and a species 

 which I had forgotten, but may mention as tolerably com- 

 mon, viz. the White-headed Duck {Erismatura mersa). I 

 was surprised at the paucity of Raptores ; with the exception 

 of one common Kite and a few Kestrels, we saw nothing but 

 Harriers. And another surprising fact was that we did not 

 see a single Podiceps of any species, though the whole of the 

 district is apparently admirably suited to their habits and 

 swarming with fish — grey mullet, tench, and eels. To return 

 to terra firma, the most conspicuous bird was the common 

 Magpie, which is very abundant, and breeds all over the 

 country, high and low. We now and then saw and heard a 

 Raven. Some Hooded Crows {Corvus comix) frequented 

 the sandhills which extend from Catania between the marshes 

 and the sea for many miles ; and the Jackdaw is very abun- 

 dant. The common Jay {Garrulus glandarius) is found in 

 the wooded portions of Etna (I observed it near Nicolosi) . 

 We saw a few common Kingfishers [Alcedo ispida) on the 

 banks of the rivers ; the Swallow tribe were increasing 

 in numbers every day ; we saw all the common European 

 species of this family, the great arrival of the common 

 Swallow and Alpine Swift occurring on the same day, viz. 

 March 24th. I feel no doubt in my own mind that on that 

 day I also saw more than one of the eastern Chimney- Swallow 

 {Hirundo rufula); but as we were in a carriage and our guns 



