120 Dr. F. H. H. Guillemard — Ornithological 



where except on or among the pines. On Troodos it was not 

 uncommon, in small parties of live or six, wliicli followed each 

 other from tree to tree, and occasionally descended to the 

 ground to feed. Its note is a feeble edition of that of Parus 

 ater. 



I expected to find Cypselus melba here, but did not see one. 



The Martins {Chelidun urbica) built under the false arches 

 on the eastern wall of the monastery, their nests clustered 

 together in masses of ten or twelve. I noticed here a pecu- 

 liarity about the Swallows' nests, which were placed in great 

 numbers in the cloisters and corridors. The front was orna- 

 mented by three or four loose streamers of grass which hung 

 down for six or eight inches or more. The diffei-ence in the 

 colouring of the under surface of these birds is extraordinary. 

 It is quite common in Cyprus to see it ranging from nearly 

 white to a deep reddish buff, from Hirundo rustica to //. 

 savignii in other woitIs. Although one may often see these 

 extremes in a paired couple, the differences in colouring do 

 not appear to be sexual. In Cyprus, at any rate, it is impos- 

 sible to allow that H. savignii is a good species. One more 

 remark on these birds and I have done. It is, that though 

 the Swallow is wonderfully common throughout the island, 

 the Martin, on the other hand, is a very local bird. 



I shaped my course westward on leaving Kikko, passing 

 through country much like that in the neighbourhood of the 

 monastery — deep valleys in all directions, only separated from 

 one another by sharp ridges, along the brows of which the 

 narrow trail for the most part led. The distant scenery was 

 splendid^ but our immediate surroundings were too bare for 

 beauty. An hour or two after our start, however, we came 

 to a part where tlie hills were sparsely clothed with pines, 

 and here I saw several Jays*. I was fortunate in shooting 

 a couple, for the slopes which we were passing must have 

 been nearly 45°, ground where one cannot follow one's game 

 with much facility. I also saw the Golden Oriole, for the 

 first and only time during my visit to the island. My desti- 



* From tlie feathers of these birds being in a much abraded condition, 

 it is not possible to name them with any degree of certainty. 



