Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/256

 222 flint's natural HISTOBT. [Book III. flames. The third island is Strongyle lying one mile^ to the east of Lipara, over which JEolus reigned as well ; it differs only from Lipara in the superior brilliancy of its flames. Erom the smoke of this volcano it is said that some of the inhabitants are able to predict three days beforehand what winds are about to blow ; hence arose the notion that the winds are governed by iEolus. The fourth of these islands is Didyme^, smaller than Lipara, the fifth Ericusa, the sixth Phcenicusa, left to be a pasture-ground for the cattle of the neighbouring islands, and the last and smallest Euonymos. Thus much as to the first great Grulf of Europe. CHAP. 15. (10.) — MAGNA GE^CIA, BEGINNING AT LOCEI. At Locri begins the fore-part of Italy, called Magna Graecia, whose coast falls back in three bays'* formed by the Ausonian sea, so called from the Ausones, who were the first inhabitants of the country. According to Varro it is 86 miles in extent ; but most writers have made it only 75. Along this coast there are rivers innumerable, but we shall mention those only that are worthy of remark. After leaving Locri we come to the Sagra^, and the ruins of the town of Caulon, Mystiae^, Consilinum Castrum'^, Cocin- thum^, in the opinion of some, the longest headland of Italy, and then the Grulf of Scylacium^, and Scylacium^" itself, that is continually burning. Notwithstanding the dangers of their loca- lity, this island is inhabited by about fifty famihes. 2 Strabo makes the same mistake ; the distance is twenty miles. ^ According to Hardouin and D'Anville this is the modem Sahne, but Mannert says Panaria. The geographers differ in assigning their ancient names to the other three, except that Euonymos, from its name, the " left- hand " island, is clearly the modern Lisca Bianca. ^ These are the Grulf of Locri, the Gulf of ScyUacium, and the Grulf of Tarentum. 5 Now called the Sagriano, though some make it to be the modem Alaro. The site of the town of Caulon does not appear to be known : it is by some placed at Castel Yetere on the Alaro. <> Said by Hardouin to be the modern Monasteraci or Monte Araci. 7 Supposed to have been situate on a lull near the modern Padula. 8 The modern Pmita di Stilo, or " Pomt of the Column." ^ The modem Gulf of SquiUace. ^" Now Squillace.
 * Now Strongoli and Stromboli. It is the only one of these mountains