Ornithology of Cyprus. 
415 
1015. (Edicnemus scolopax (S. G. Gmel.). 
The Stone Curlew is tolerably common in the plains and 
is, at any rate in some numbers, resident. 
Sibthorp obtained it in May; Lord Lilford found it 
common in all suitable localities during his visit and believed 
it to be a permanent resident: Schrader states that it can be 
found singly throughout the year: Muller mentions a male 
taken in January ; Guillemard met with it in May and June; 
Glaszner at the end of August. Mr. Baxendale has had it 
under his observation in the Papho district during prac¬ 
tically the entire year, and I have had specimens sent to me 
in March from Athalassa and in May also from the Nicosia 
neighbourhood. Mr. G. F. Wilson, who has frequently shot 
it, tells me that he has met with it in August, September, and 
January, and that young birds have been obtained in August, 
so that there is little doubt as to its breeding locally. It 
was also noticed by Horsbrugh in May, and he saw a flock 
of about twenty at Famagusta on January the 13th, 1910. 
1016. Glareola pratincola (Linn.). 
Probably the “ birds not unlike plovers,” which appeared 
upon the procession of the holy picture from the Kykko 
monastery and “ swooping down upon the locusts devoured 
great quantity,” as mentioned by Cornelis van Bruyn, a 
Dutchman who visited Cyprus in 1683, were Pratincoles. 
Van Bruyn states that these birds ee had never been seen 
before nor were ever seen again, but the Pasha had forbidden 
them to he killed, under pain of death.” 
Sibthorp, who includes this species in his list, speaks of 
it in his Journal as a summer visitor. Lord Lilford found it 
very abundant about the beginning of May and stated that 
he felt no doubt that it bred in the island. Schrader states 
that it occurs in small flocks at the migration seasons only. 
Guillemard met with numbers at Morphou towards the end 
of May 1887. Glaszner does not appear to have sent it to 
Madarasz. None of our party came across this bird in the 
spring of 1909, but, though it can no longer count on finding 
flights of locusts in Cyprus, the island is well within its 
