MEDITERRANEAN NOTES 157 



" In the market of Catania saw Fulica atra in some quantities, one 

 Porphyrio, Machetes pugnax, Anas boscas, A. querquedula, Mareca 

 penelope, Fuligula rufina, Scolopax gallinago. A great many calan- 

 dras in cages, and greenfinches, goldfinches, serins, and linnets in 

 the live bird market. Not a great many gulls in the harbours. 

 Great quantities of fish of many species in the market mullet, 

 tench, and eels from Lentini, and endless varieties of sea fish. In 

 the gardens of the Benedittini convent were many Passer salicicolus, 

 Fringilla carduelis and F. chloris and many lizards ; I think L, 

 muralis. They call the Porphyrio ' Faccianu,' i.e. pheasant." 



"March iqth. Went to see the Botanical and Zoo- 

 logical Gardens ; at the latter there are a few beasts and 

 birds. Tried fishing just out of the harbour and caught 

 a few very small fish." 



" March 2oM. Drove out to Nicolosi, about twelve 

 miles ; the whole country a mass of lava, well cultivated ; 

 olives, carobs, vines, oranges and lemons, wheat, prickly 

 pear, lupins, etc. Round Nicolosi lies a frightful waste 

 of black lava, with here and there scrub oaks, squills, and 

 other shrubs, with a good deal of Spanish broom. We 

 took mules and rode up to the Monte Rossi an old 

 crater, whence there is a splendid view of Etna and the 

 whole plain of Catania. Very few birds." 



"March list. Beautiful day. We took the cutter 

 and went away to the mouth of a canal about eight or 

 ten miles to the S.W. Fine sheets of water and marshes 

 and sandhills. A great many birds. I cannot walk and 

 M cannot shoot, so we did not do much." 



