MEDITERRANEAN NOTES 225 



AT SEA 



" March ^\st. Saw the first black-headed gull (Larus 

 melanocephalus} of this cruise. Two or three tired 

 robins (Erithacus rubeculd] came on board. At 12 a.m. 

 we were twenty-six miles from Cape Caccia, in Sardinia, 

 the nearest land. Very soon afterwards we made Cape 

 Argentiera and Asinara ; at 6 p.m. we were off the 

 lighthouse at the latter spot. Very light westerly breeze. 

 Many porpoises ; lovely moonlight night. We ran fast 

 through the Strait of Bonifacio, and about midnight 

 rounded the light on the island of Razzoli." 



" April \st. At about 8.30 a.m. the captain reported 

 no sign of a breeze, so I ordered steam for 10 a.m., and 

 we ran along the coast of Corsica ; a lovely morning, 

 with the faintest of ripples from the south." 



SPEZIA 



" April ^rd. Drove in afternoon to Porto Venese ; 

 very pretty views over the bay, but country much spoiled 

 by the masses of olives. Birds exceedingly scarce ; I only 

 noticed chaffinch, great titmouse, and kestrel, besides a 

 few gulls. We went afterwards for a drive to the valley 

 of the Magra, over a low col. To the north-east, a wild 

 river torrent bed, with very little water in it now ; 

 picturesque villages perched on hills round about. Heard 

 and saw sparrow, crested lark, cirl bunting, blackbird, 

 swallow, house martin." 



