408 
Mr. J. A. Bucknill on the 
This Partridge thrives well and breeds in captivity. It is 
a very common cage-bird in the bazaars, and becomes 
extremely tame. 
In 1883 an attempt was made by Mr. J. P. Middleton to 
introduce the English species, Perdioc cinerea. A few pairs 
were turned down in standing barley at Kolossi farm, near 
Limassol, but the experiment was not a success, and their fate 
is a mystery. 
952. Francoltnus vulgaris Steph. 
The Francolin is described from Cyprus as early as 1738, 
by Dr. Pococke, and is referred to at some length by 
numerous writers. 
It is therefore unnecessary to say more than that it is a 
resident, and, except in a few remoter localities such as the 
Papho and Karpas districts where there is ample cover, is now 
by no means common. It is, unfortunately for itself, not a 
wary bird and very easy to shoot, and, in consequence, although 
protected by law entirely until 1911 it still, it is to be feared, 
frequently falls a victim to unscrupulous gunners. It need 
hardly perhaps be stated that it is far less abundant than it 
was forty or fifty years ago. It is, however, still well known 
to all local sportsmen, and I think that, on the whole, the 
protection supposed to be afforded to it by the lav/ has 
not been altogether without effect. When shooting in the 
Papho district in the autumn of 1908 I saw as many 
as a dozen individuals in a day. It nests in late April, 
May and early June, and I have notes of clutches of from 
eight to eleven eggs from April the 24th to June the 4th. 
I am told that it is an excellent table bird. The mention 
of the occurrence of the “ Ptarmigan” in Cyprus by an 
anonymous writer in f The Field ; of April the 27th, 1889, 
is obviously a mistake for “ Francolin.” 
958. Coturnix communis Bonnaterre. 
The Quail has been well known in Cyprus for centuries 
and is constantly referred to by mediaeval writers. 
It is at the present day a regular visitor in some numbers 
on its spring and autumn migrations, and, whilst a few 
