Orrdthology of the Mediterranean. 285 



on the subject. He remarks, " Ephesus is not a formidable 

 journey. I have never been there; but am told that Francolins 

 are to be shot in the neighbourhood." He then goes on to say, 

 " I have myself shot it in Asia Minor." Now I suppose that 

 if Dr. Bree considers Cyprus as (ornithologically) European, 

 he would, for similar reasons, include Asia Minor in the European 

 boundary, as the one certainly cannot be admitted without the 

 other. But, in the present state of human knowledge, Asia Minor 

 ranks as part of Asia ; and therefore, till we hear more of it, we 

 must conclude that the Francolin in Europe non est inventus^. 



74i. Greek Partridge. [Perdix grceca.) 



Inhabits the mountainous parts of Greece, as well as most 

 of the Ionian Islands. Like all the true Partridges, it is not 

 migratory. Either this bird or a variety is common in Syria, 

 both round Damascus and Jerusalem. 



75. Barbary Partridge. {Perdix petrosa.) 



Brought to Malta from Africa in great quantities by the 

 trading vessels ; common on the African coast, but, as far as 

 my experience goes, not to be found in Europe. 



76. Quail. {Perdix coturnix.) 



This bird has long been celebrated for its numbers and mi- 

 grations across the Mediterranean : they come suddenly, and 

 during the night, in immense flocks. Morning after morning, 

 towards the end of April, the indefatigable Maltese caqadores 

 beat through the rustling corn, but not a bird is to be seen ; at 

 last they rise some day to find them everywhere — on the bare 

 rocks, in the bushes by the roadside, crouching beneath the 

 cotton, or whirring out from the barley. Well do the little 

 Maltese pointers understand their wiles, and work them up for 

 their masters, who sometimes bag twenty or thirty brace before 

 ten o'clock. They never breed in the island, but pass on to 

 Europe. 



77. Pratincole. {Glareola pratincola.) 



In my notes, July 28th, 1862, 1 find : — " Whilst boar-shooting 

 on the Plain of Sharon, I shot some Pratincoles. There were 



* See Lord Lilford's article on this subject, ' Ibis,' 1862, p. .352. — Ed. 



