the Birds of Cyprus. 339 



during the winter of 1878-79 told me that he shot a Peewit 

 near that place, and on emptying his game-pocket found that 

 the bird stuck fast therein. He was exceedingly astonished 

 to find that the detaining agency was a " thorn " attached to 

 the wing-joint of the dead bird, but did not discover that his 

 prize was anything more than a common Green Plover. *. 



160. Lapwing. Vanellus cristatus. 



I suppose that this species may be considered as a winter 

 visitor to Cyprus, as I did not meet with it in April in most 

 suitable localities. From Guillemard^s notes [cf. Ibis, 1888, 

 p. 98, and 1889, p. 211) it would ajjpear that, although met 

 with by him in flocks in February, it can hardly be called abun- 

 dant in the island. It is not included in linger and Kotschy's 

 list, nor did Pearse send home any speciaiens. *. G. 



161. Golden Plover, Charadrius pluvialis. 



Cf. Guillemard, Ibis, 1889, p. 214. I can find no other 

 record of the occurrence of this species in Cyprus. *. G. 



162. Oyster-Catcher. Hamatopus ostralegus. 

 Cf. Unger and Kotschy, op. supra cit. 



163. Black-winged Stilt. Himantopus melanopterus. 

 Common in May about the freshwater marshes. Cf. Guille- 

 mard, Ibis, 1888, p. Ill, and 1889, p. 219. *. 



164. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticula. 



I was, of course, too late in the season in ray visit to Cyprus 

 to meet with this bird, which only visits the island in November 

 and December, occasionally in very large numbers. I have 

 heard a rumour of forty couples of Woodcocks having fallen 

 to the guns of two English officers in the district of Akamas, 

 not far from Cape Arnauti. I was informed that the hill- 

 sides near Trikhomo are very favourite haunts in rainy 

 winters, and that, as a general rule, the great autumnal 

 flights are satisfied with their quarters on the north side of 

 the Mesorea, though a fair sprinkling are often to be found 

 to the south of that great plain. My interpreter assured me 

 that two Englishmen, to whom he acted as guide some years 

 before my visit, made a bag of nearly 100 head in the south- 



