356 On the Extinction in Europe of the Common Francolin. 



the flesh, fish, and fowl. May not, therefore, the cook have had 

 something to do with it ? That the fathers did not agree with 

 Captain Irby is abundantly proved. Olina quotes St. Jerome, who, 

 rebuking some hypocrite's pretence of abstemious living, says, 

 " Tu Attagenem eructas, et de comesto ansere gloriaris." Whilst 

 I write, I receive a letter from a friend formerly resident at Naples, 

 who tells me that, during six and a half years' constant shooting 

 over the Terra di Lavoro, he never even heard the name of Franco- 

 lino : he also says, — " Prince Piguatelli informed me that he once 

 killed a Francolin near Palermo, about the beginning of this 

 century ; and such was even then the rarity of the bird, that his 

 having done so was considered an extraordinary exploit by all 

 the cacciatori." 



Sicily has now fallen into the hands of Victor Emmanuel, who 

 adds to his many other merits that of being a first-rate sports- 

 man; and as His Majesty is titular King of Cyprus, and, no 

 doubt, possesses his proper influence with his brother of Turkey, 

 let us hope that the Francolins may again be established in their 

 former haunts in " Trinacria/' and thence, by degrees, find their 

 way into the preserves of Italy's best foreign friends, the gentle- 

 men of England. I have no doubt whatever that they would 

 thrive in many parts of Great Britain. There could be no great 

 difficulty in importing them from Beyrout, in the neighbourhood 

 of which town they are "not uncommon (the Arabs take them 

 with trained Goshawks); and I think I may venture to say that 

 our Editor would give them a reception as warm as necessary in 

 the Regent's Park. The Francolin is a bird in every way worthy 

 of the attention of the Acclimatization Society ; and should they 

 ever import any, and be at a loss for a home for them, I can only 

 say that I should, at any time, be most happy to receive and give 

 them every necessary attention. But I discover that I am adver- 

 tising ; so I will merely add, that I shall feel much honoured if 

 Dr. Bree will take up the amicable glove I have thrown down, 

 and if he can prove the present existence of a Francolin in a wild 

 state in any part of Europe (properly speaking), I shall retire 

 from the field vanquished, but delighted. I am of a hopeful 

 temperament, and I do not despair of seeing the day when Fran- 

 colins shall be as common in England as Red-legged Partridges 

 or Chinese Ring-necked Pheasants. 



