Ornithology of Cyprus. 15 



visitor. It is extremely plentiful at that season and is sold 

 in strings for food. It is certainly the commonest cage- 

 bird in the bazaars, and its song, though shrill, is not 

 unpleasant. I have seen dozens towards the end of March 

 in full song on the plains, and have obtained the bird as 

 late as mid-April. I think that the majority leave in April 

 and return in or about October. 



555. Alauda arvensis Linn. 



Lord Lilford recorded the Skylark as exceedingly abun- 

 dant in April and May, and regarded it as very common. 

 Guillemard obtained it in February and March 1887 and 

 1888, and Glaszner sent a good many to Madarasz taken in 

 various localities in February, October, and November. I 

 have only noticed it near Nicosia in March, and then not 

 in any numbei's, but I presume that it is a winter visitor, 

 its numbers being augmented by the birds of passage in 

 spring and autumn. 



557. Alauda arborea Linn. 



Lord Lilford met with the "Woodlark more than once 

 in April in the Karpas ; Pearse obtained specimens in 

 November; Guillemard two near Limassol on January the 

 3rd and one on Troodos on April the 18th, 1888. Glaszner 

 sent five taken near Larnaca and on Troodos to Madarasz 

 in February, May, September, and December. Horsbrugh 

 found it fairly common on Troodos in the first week of 

 June 1909 and obtained examples. I should think that 

 this species is partially a spring and autumn migrant and 

 partially a winter visitor ; possibly, also, some may nest in 

 the mountains. 



558. Corydus cristatus (Linn.). 



Alauda cristata Linn. B. O. U. List, p. 171. 



The Crested Lark is perhaps numerically the most common 

 bird in Cyprus, sharing this distinction with the Goldfinch. 

 It is a resident, but of course does not frequent the moun- 

 tainous parts of the Island. It appears, according to my 

 observations, to be particularly noticeable at the periods of 



