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tolerably abundant. The country in this part of the island is partially cultivated with wheat, 

 cotton, barley, and other cereals. We generally found the Francolin in the immediate vicinity 

 of cultivated ground, though never, as far as I recollect, actually in the corn. The uncultivated 

 portions of the country are covered with a dense scrub of lentiscus and a species of juniper, 

 which in some places attains a considerable height, and is very difficult to penetrate for man or 

 dog. We were generally guided by the cry of the male bird, which is very peculiar, consisting 

 of three bell-like notes which are audible at a very great distance. By the action of our dogs I 

 am inclined to think that the bird runs off immediately on being approached for a short distance, 

 and then ensconces itself in the thickest low-growing lentiscus it can find, and will not rise until 

 almost trodden on. In our experience the male bird invariably rose first, springing straight up 

 into the air with a chuckling note and a whirring of the wings resembling that of the common 

 Pheasant. The hen would generally rise at the shot ; in fact I hardly recollect an instance in 

 which we flushed the male without finding the female. I had the good fortune to find a nest 

 containing eleven eggs, which proved to be much incubated. This was on the 24th of April, 

 1875 ; the nest was placed on the ground in the centre of a dense low-growing lentiscus, and 

 consisted of merely a few dried grasses. The eggs were very unmistakable. 



" I observe that Dr. Bree, in his second edition of the ' Birds of Europe ' (iv. p. 143), quoting 

 from Sig. Benoit's work, says that the Francolin makes its nest under birches and other bushes. 

 This strikes me as an extraordinary statement, as, though I am no botanist, I can hardly conceive 

 the existence of the birch in any locality inhabited by the Francolin. 



" We also met with the Francolin in Cyprus, in the neighbourhood of Baffo, the ancient 

 Paphos, and often heard it near Limasol, though in this locality we could never induce it to rise. 

 We found nothing in the crops of these birds but the remains of coleopterous insects and a few 

 minute seeds. I was assured that within the last twenty years this species was exceedingly 

 common on the island of Rhodes, where it is now entirely extinct. We often heard the cry of 

 the Francolin after dark at night. • From my own observation I can fully confirm Sig. Benoit's 

 statement as to the present species not perching, as it is stated to do by several authors." 



I am indebted to Mr. C. G. Danford for the following notes on the habits of this species : — 

 "Francolins appear to prefer dry rush-beds near water; but where such cover is not to be had 

 they will frequent ground where there is plenty of bush and myrtle scrub, and may often be 

 found at a considerable distance from water, but, according to my experience, invariably on the 

 plains. We always saw more hens than cocks ; but that may arise from the former not being 

 quite such runners as the latter. They are both difficult enough to flush, and especially so in 

 dull weather, when it was often the work of hours to get them up from the rush cover, although 

 sharply pushed by the dogs all the time. When they do take to the wing it is with a quick 

 whirring flight, which generally begins with a short perpendicular rise, and is afterwards straight, 

 level, and not long sustained. They are about as easy to shoot as a Quail of the same size would 

 be ; even a Turk with his long gun can hit them flying, a circumstance much against their 

 chances of multiplying. The flesh is delicate and good, but has not a strong game flavour. The 

 weights of a full-grown male and female were 1^ lb. and 1 lb. respectively. The crops of those 

 which I examined contained various insects, barley-seeds, and green vegetable substances." 



I am indebted to the liberality of Lord Lilford for two eggs of the Francolin, obtained by 



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