Occas!oual Xnf>'.<. 121 



sprin^i; — large flights of Quail (Cotnrnix vuhjar/-^) are found 

 and afford good sport. 



" Partridges fetch retail about 9(/. apiece, Snipe 4J., Wood- 

 cock l.<r., and Quail l},d. or 2(1. 



" A delicacy here is the so-called Ortolan. It is popuhirly 

 supposed to be the Ortolan Bunting (^Emheriza hortulana), 

 but probably includes more than one species of small bird 

 and certainly Sylvia atricapllla (Blackcap) in considerabh^ 

 numbers. These little birds are snared by the peasants and 

 shepherd lads with bird-lime in the autumn at the time of 

 migration in large numbers in vineyards and similar suitable 

 spots. They are called locally, and indeed generally, in 

 Southern Europe ' Beccaficos.' When caught they are 

 roughly plucked without being 'drawn' and are served 

 either fresh roasted on toast as are Quail, or are pickled in 

 wine or vinegar and eaten raw as ' hors-d'oeuvres.' I pre- 

 fer them in the former state, but they are undoubtedly 

 savoury when served in the latter style. 



" There is a strong Game Law and a Wild Birds' Protection 

 Statute. ' Game ' includes Pheasants (there are none in 

 the island), Francolins, Partridges, Sand Grouse (Pterocles 

 arenarliis). Bustards (we get Otis tarda and Otis tetrax)y 

 Wild Ducks (14 species are recorded), Wild Geese, W^ood- 

 cock, Snipe (Jack, Common, and Great), Quails, and Land- 

 rails. The close season for Partridges is from 1st February 

 to 12th October, but Wild Duck, Woodcock, or Snipe may be 

 shot any time between Sept. 1st and March 15th : no game 

 may be exported ; no person may take, sell, or have in his 

 f)ossession eggs of any game-bird. No wild birds — except 

 Wood Pigeons, Crows, Magpies, Fieldfares, and Bee-eaters — • 

 may be shot or caught in a close season fixed between 15th 

 Feb. and 1st August, except for scientific purposes under 

 authority of Government. 



" I think I have already written probably more than you 

 will care to read. I am writing without any proper books of 

 reference and only have the S. African C^heck-list and a bare 

 list of Cyprus birds before me, so I have had to trust to 



10* 



