Tour in Cyprus in 1887. 123 



ill doing so. My only excursion was to an ancient site near 

 Poli ton Chrysochou, where recent excavations have brought 

 to light a quantity of Greek pottery of a late period. In 

 the dry heat-stricken fidds there was little life, and I only 

 shot a Wood Pigeon and saw two Stone Curlews. In Cyprus 

 the summer is not the season for the ornithologist, although it 

 may be said to be fairly good for the sportsman, Mr. 

 Williamson told me that in the Acamas district (the extreme 

 western promontory of the island) he had shot a very large 

 quantity of Francolin, Partridge, and Hares in ten days at 

 the beginning of July. Near Poli, the Francolin could be 

 heard calling in all directions ; but it is difficult to flush these 

 birds without dogs, and as I merely needed specimens for 

 preservation, I only once went after them. The only animal 

 of interest that I obtained at Limni was Cynonycteris coUaris, 

 a large frugivorous Bat, which inhabits a cave in the neigh- 

 bourhood in some numbers. 



I had now made up my mind to proceed to the summit of 

 Troodos without delay, and accordingly made for Limassol 

 along the south coast, stopping at Papho, Pissouri, and 

 Episkopi on my way. I hardly recognized the latter 

 place, so changed was it from its former beauty of apricot 

 blossom and bright green foliage. Now it was brown, dry, 

 and dust}'- to a degree, and hardly a bird was to be seen. 

 On reaching Limassol I despatched my heavy baggage in 

 advance, and two days later rode up to Troodos enveloped in 

 clouds of dust and with a blazing sun overhead. I had no 

 occasion to complain of the heat that evening, however. We 

 dined wrapped in our ulsters and with paraffin stoves at our 

 feet, and the thermometer, which had registered 83° Fahr. as 

 the minimum night temperature at Limassol, now sank 

 to 39°. 



The military camp at Troodos is placed within a very short 

 distance of the summit, at an elevation of about 6600 feet, 

 and the mountain is here, as elsewhere, scantily clothed with 

 pines. They have a dried-up and stunted appearance, as of 

 trees that have strayed beyond their proper latitude. During 

 the three days I remained here I found less of interest than 



