391 



APPENDIX A. 



ON THE WILD GOATS OF GREECE. 



I HAVE purposely refrained in the foregoing chapters from 

 entering into zoological questions/ and this for the double 

 reason that not only would those interested in sport and 

 travel object to finding lengthy dissertations on species and 

 similar matters interfering with their amusement (if, as I 

 hope, they can find amusement in this work), but also because, 

 even those interested in natural history may find it con- 

 venient to have the matter which appeals to them collected 

 ready to their hand. 



In the days of Homer wild goats were presumably found 

 on most of the islands of the ^gean and Levant — at least 

 on those with which the Greeks were familiar. The poet's 

 description — 



" An isle crown'd with many a grove, 

 Where savage goats through pathless thickets rove. 

 No wretched hunters through the wintry cold 

 Pursue their flight, but leave them safe to bound." 



— Pope's Translation. 



must have applied to many of them, especially in the 

 Cyclades and Sporades. The following reference alludes 

 particularly to the large numbers of these goats : — 



" Rous'd by the woodland nymphs, at early dawn 

 The mountain goats come bounding o'er the lawn ; 

 In haste our fellows to the ships repair 

 For arms and weapons of the sylvan war ; 



^ Except in chapter zxxiii. 



