DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.809#0137
112
'CARAVANSERAI' BY ROAD-HEAD
these, except the white, are of more or less vivid hue, such as kyanos blue,
Venetian red, or yellow. The appearance of a black background—on the
right, too, abruptly bordering on the light ground—is hitherto unexampled
in such a series.
On the extreme left a male partridge, well shown in the restored sketch
in black and white, Fig. 51, raises himself to his full height,1 flapping his
wings, and with his beak slightly parted,2 like a cock about to crow. It is
Fig. 51. Restored Drawing of Hoopoe and Partridge.
well known that cock partridges both at nightfall and at dawn give vent to
a shrill cry, like the warning of chanticleer. Is it possible that the black
background against which this bird is outlined, in contrast to the daylight
scene beyond, may be actually taken as a representation of night ? Another
explanation, however, may be found in the fondness of these Cretan partridges
for entering caves, whether in the hot sun for shade or to take shelter there
at night. The natives encourage the habit by spreading a train of food into
the cave, the natural opening of which is artificially narrowed, and then trap-
ping them by suddenly closing the entrance.3 This latter suggestion is
1 27-5 cm. as against 25 cm. in the case of
the preceding bird.
2 This, however, is also observable in the
beaks which have been preserved of the other
partridges. The hoopoe's beak in group 1
is closer.
3 See on this, A. Trevor Battye, Camping in
Crete, pp. 44, 45. A cave on Akrotiri is
specially mentioned. ' I was told that the
Monks of Hagia Triada supply their game
larder from the cave in question.'
'CARAVANSERAI' BY ROAD-HEAD
these, except the white, are of more or less vivid hue, such as kyanos blue,
Venetian red, or yellow. The appearance of a black background—on the
right, too, abruptly bordering on the light ground—is hitherto unexampled
in such a series.
On the extreme left a male partridge, well shown in the restored sketch
in black and white, Fig. 51, raises himself to his full height,1 flapping his
wings, and with his beak slightly parted,2 like a cock about to crow. It is
Fig. 51. Restored Drawing of Hoopoe and Partridge.
well known that cock partridges both at nightfall and at dawn give vent to
a shrill cry, like the warning of chanticleer. Is it possible that the black
background against which this bird is outlined, in contrast to the daylight
scene beyond, may be actually taken as a representation of night ? Another
explanation, however, may be found in the fondness of these Cretan partridges
for entering caves, whether in the hot sun for shade or to take shelter there
at night. The natives encourage the habit by spreading a train of food into
the cave, the natural opening of which is artificially narrowed, and then trap-
ping them by suddenly closing the entrance.3 This latter suggestion is
1 27-5 cm. as against 25 cm. in the case of
the preceding bird.
2 This, however, is also observable in the
beaks which have been preserved of the other
partridges. The hoopoe's beak in group 1
is closer.
3 See on this, A. Trevor Battye, Camping in
Crete, pp. 44, 45. A cave on Akrotiri is
specially mentioned. ' I was told that the
Monks of Hagia Triada supply their game
larder from the cave in question.'