74 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



to me in the environs of Athens ; the amphibious otter is found in 

 the rivers and marshes of Boeotia. The Phoca or sea-calf frequents 

 the rocks of Didascalo, and Ambelia in the sea of Corinth ; and the 

 porpoise is seen often on the coast of Attica. The small species 

 of bat flutters about Athens late in the evening, and the larger 

 species inhabits the caverns and holes of the rocks in the island of 

 Didascalo. 



The nomenclature of the birds of Attica compared with the ancient 

 names of Aristotle would prove a valuable commentary on . that 

 author. The ornithologist who resided for some time at Athens 

 would be enabled to clear up many of the obscure passages of that 

 great naturalist; but he should remain there for a considerable 

 period ; mark the migration of the different birds of passage ; the 

 time of their arrival ; their disappearance ; note down the popular 

 observations, and the different variations in their nomenclature. 

 My catalogue is imperfect, but it is interesting, as being the only 

 one that has ever been made of the Grecian birds ; it contains such 

 as I saw myself, and some few of the existence of which I was 

 assured upon the best authorities. Of the Accipitres, a large species 

 of vulture, called by the Greeks o^veo, frequents the cliffs of Delphi, 

 and the woods and precipices of Parnassus ; the smaller species, 

 called Asproparos, I observed near Liacoura. Of the falcon tribe, 

 I saw a large species, called by our guides Aetos, and probably the 

 Falco Chrysaetos, soaring over the heights of Pendeli. The Falco 

 lerax breeds in the islands of Didascalo and Ambelia in the sea of 

 Corinth. The Falco Kirkenasi, half domestic, arrives early in the 

 spring with the storks, in immense numbers, joint inhabitant with 

 them of the houses and temples of the Athenians, and retires with 

 these birds at the latter end of August. I observed a large grey 

 hawk of the Buzzard kind on the plain of Marathon ; another 

 species brown, with a white band on the wings, flying over the 

 plain of Livadea ; and a small dark hawk skimming the ground near 

 Cape Sunium. My short stay at this place not permitting me to 



