580 Mr. J. A. Bucknill on the 



besides visiting tlie mountains. He made a large collection 

 of skins and eggs, the bulk of which is now at the 

 South Kensington Natural History Museum, Even with 

 all this welcome aid our united endeavours have not as yet 

 been able to accomplish very much, but we have succeeded 

 in swelling the list by the addition of Turdus iliacus, Turdus 

 ulpestris, Podicipes nigricollis, Gijpaetus barbatus, Clangula 

 (jlaucion, Chenalopex agyptiacus, Anser segetum, Branta ber- 

 nicla, Turtur senegahnsis, Houbara macqueeni, and Chryso- 

 mitris spinus, and in discovering a certain amount about 

 the nesting, migration, and distribution of a good many 

 species. 



A word should perhaps be here said as to the local 

 protection of wild birds and game. " Game " in Cyprus is 

 defined to iiiclude Pheasants, Francolius, Partridges, Sand- 

 er rouse. Bustards, Wild Ducks, Wild Geese, Woodcocks, Snipe, 

 (iuails, and Land-Rails. The inclusion of Pheasants, which 

 have long been extinct in the island, was due, uo doubt, to 

 an attempt at their introduction shortly after the British 

 occupation in 1878, the definition first appearing in a law 

 (,f 1879. There is a summer close-season for all game; Fran- 

 colius are totally protected for five years from ]\Iarch 17th, 

 1906. The taking of eggs of game-birds and the export of 

 game are prohibited. There is a close-time for wild birds 

 and their eggs during the breeding-season, except in the 

 case of Sparrows, Crows, Ravens, Magpies, Doves, and a few 

 other species thought to be harmful. The export of skins 

 and eggs of birds is prohibited ; but the High Commissioner 

 may grant special permission to enable persons to collect 

 and export birds and their eggs for scientific research. The 

 local Dipper, Wren, Tree-creeper, Crossbill, Chat, Great and 

 Coal Titmice and their eggs are, by a law passed this year, 

 protected at all seasons. A gun-licence, including the right 

 to shoot game, costs ten shillings, and is, as a matter of 

 jjractice, issued to any person who can produce, which is not 

 difficult, a certificate of respectability from his local "Elders." 

 Very roughly some five thousand gun-licences are issued 

 annually. A good many of the Cypriote upper classes, both 



