Beiträge zur Ornithologie Griechenlands

A fleeting glance at the map of Greece is enough to make the naturalist understand the importance of this country's location from a natural history perspective. Indeed, Greece is a land richly blessed by nature; all the products of the earth flourish there in abundant variety. In the majestic primeval forests, waiting for the carpenter's axe to transform them into proud ships, herds of deer, roes, and wild boars roam freely. From the ruins of abandoned cities, reclaimed by nature, bursting with vigorous woodlands and rampant vines, the nimble roe deer leaps, startled by the hunter. On the cliffs of Velugi, the elusive chamois climbs and curiously peers over the Cyclopean walls of lost cities of ancient Hellas. On the highest peaks of Oeta and on some uninhabited islands, the eastern ibex leaps. Behind the ruins of monuments to Greece's past greatness and glory, the startled hare bolts from the underbrush before the probing dog, while the rough bear rolls down from the heights of Olympus and Pindus.

Given such favorable circumstances, it is natural that birds play a significant role in the animal economy, and although the number of breeding birds in Greece is quite considerable, their quantity during periodic migrations exceeds all imagination. This wonderful book about the historical avifauna of Greece is an unaltered reprint of the long out-of-print original edition from 1844.