580 



On some of the Birds of Cyprus. 



round in the Mesoroca, where they breed and where their 

 eggs have been found. It is said that their numbers are 

 increased in the autumn by fresh arrivals in the island. 



14. Francolinus vulgaris. 



Soon after arriving in Cyprus I was fortunate enough to 

 see a good many of these handsome birds not far from 

 Papho, and later was shown a nest which had been found 



Text-fiff. 17. 



Nest and Eggs of Francolin. 



by a shepherd. This consisted merely of a hollow in the 

 ground lined with dead grass, and was situated under a small 

 bush in the middle of some standing corn. On the 28th of 

 May it contained eleven eggs (see text-fig. 17). The hen bird 

 sat very closely, allowing me to fix my camera within a few 

 yards, and only leaving the nest when I pushed aside some 

 tufts of grass with a long stick, after which she remained 

 close at hand, uttering a shrill and plaintive noise. 



