GREECE. 77 



covered with snow, is seen the Emberiza Nivalis, inhabitant alike of 

 the frozen Spitsbergen, and of the Grecian Alp. 



The bunting, the yellow-hammer, and a species of Emberiza nearly 

 related to it, frequent the low bushes in the neighbourhood of corn 

 fields. Of the Finch tribe, the sparrow is the most common species ; 

 we observed the goldfinch and the linnet ; the Fringilla flaveola, 

 which I had seen in Cyprus, is not unfrequent about Athens. Of 

 the wagtail and slender-billed birds, the wheat-ear is the most ge- 

 neral species throughout Greece, inhabitant equally of the highest 

 mountains, and lowest plains. The white water-wagtail we found 

 on the banks of rivulets, and still waters ; and the redstart near the 

 shore on the eastern coast of Attica. Various are the species of 

 Motacilla, confounded under the general name of Beccafica ; one 

 species, which I take to be the true sort, I shot in the olive grounds 

 of Pendeli ; another sort, somewhat larger, near Athens, and a small 

 minute species often concealing itself among the bushes near Sunium. 

 Of the swallow tribe I observed all the European species, except the 

 Pratincola. The melba we found twittering in immense numbers over 

 the island of Didascalo, where it lives with the large bat in the holes 

 of the rocks. The sand martin burrows in the cliffs of Delphi ; the 

 goat-sucker retains its ancient name, and still lies under the accu- 

 sation brought against it by Aristotle of sucking the goats. 



CYPRUS. 



We find in Cyprus* a much smaller number of quadrupeds than 

 we should expect from the size of the island. The domestic animals, 



* Dr. S. observed in Cyprus a custom which has prevailed in different parts of the East 

 from the earliest times, and is mentioned by sacred and profane writers. " In the Greek 

 village of Ipsera, five hours from Famagusta, the girls of the place, as a relief to their sun- 

 burnt faces, had stained their eyelids. On inquiring respecting the nature of the process, 

 I found that these village coquettes had used no more costly paint than lamp-black ; this, 

 mixed with oil, was drawn through their eyelids on a small iron roller." See also Son- 

 nini, p. 170. 



