GREECE 189 



and, advancing carefully in their noiseless sandals, they will bring 

 down more birds with their old flint -locks than the best of modern 

 guns. The islands present the best fields for red-leg, especially 

 Lemnos and Imbros, perhaps because the birds remain more un- 

 disturbed in those less-frequented localities. 



III.— MIGRATORY GAME 



The Greek peninsula and the islands of the iEgean are. by 



reason of their geographical situation, the most important pied ct 



terre on the (jreat route of bird migration from north 



^ Importance 



to south, and vice versa. They also offer a temporary of Greece to 



restino-place to the minor bird caravans which travel Migrating 



* ^ . Fowl, 



from east to west, starting from India and Afghanistan 



to seek, by way of Persia and Asia Minor, summer quarters in 

 Europe. Twice a year immense flocks of wild birds, passing over 

 these lands, make an enforced sojourn in Greece for rest and 

 recuperation before proceeding further on the periodical journeys 

 which the rigours of climate and the search for food impose 

 upon them. 



One of the most noteworthy features of these flights is the fact, 

 which has recendy been ascertained in Greece, that, although the 

 direction of the main route remains fixed, the flocks travelling by 

 night make a diversion towards any powerful light. For instance, 

 the erection of a lighthouse on the Flevae Islands has deflected 

 towards Cape Sunium the flight of the quails which formerly 

 alighted always in the neighbourhood of Vari, not far from Athens. 



