176 SPORT IN EUROPE 



links in a long-drawn chain, and who, moreover, were all men of 



science. To these must be added the work of a keen sportsman,* 



who resided the best part of his life in Greece, Dr. Anton von 



Lindermayer, physician to the late Queen Amalia. This much in 



respect of the fauna. 



With regard to the country itself, account should be kept of the 



changes which have come over its physical condition. Successive 



ravages and the misgovernment of many centuries have 



Conditions wrought havoc with forests and vegetation ; so that well- 

 unfavourable 

 to Sport wooded districts have been transformed into arid tracts, 



and, consequently, majestic rivers have been changed 

 into violent torrents in winter and shallow streams in summer. The 

 absence of large landed estates also renders the propagation of game 

 almost hopeless, the small peasant farmers being content to kill what 

 they need for their own immediate wants or for the supply of the 

 town markets. Country life is only just beginning to be essayed 

 timidly by the richer classes. But systematic attempts at the preser- 

 vation of game are almost unknown in Greece. f Indeed cases have 



editions. There is also an English translation.) — Relation d'un voyage au Levant fait par 

 ordre du Roi, par P. Tournefort : Paris, 1717. 2 vols, in-40. — Voyage en Grece et en Turquie, 

 fait par ordre de Louis XVI., et avec I'autorisation de la Cour Ottomane, par C. S. Sonnini : 

 Paris, 1 801. 2 vols., in-8", et Atlas de planches in-4". 



* Die Vogel Griechenlands. Ein Beitrag zur F'auna dieses Landes. (Dritter Jahres- 

 Bericht des naturhistorischen Vereins.) Passau, i860, 8vo. Cf the chapter on "Ornithological 

 Sketches from the East" in Notes on Sport and Ornithology^ by H.I. and R.H. the late Crown 

 Prince Rudolf of Austria ; translated by C. G. Danford. London, 1889. 8vo., pp. 503-538. 



+ Something like an attempt at preserving game in Greece has been made at Mr. 

 Apostolides' farm, on the northern shore of the bay of Almyros, not far from V^olos. There 

 are some excellent woodcock covers in blackthorn gullies, and a pond where duck, pintail, 

 pochard and teal find food and shelter. In the neighbouring country of Thrace, Hobart 



