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natural pavement where the rain had washed away* all soluble portions and left the bare foundation! cracked in small divisions as though artificially inlaid! Now and then a wretched specimen of the Pinus Maritima, about six feet high, was to be seen vainly^ endeavouring to find nourishment in the clefts of the barren rocks. I do not believe the tales of forests! having formerly existed upon the greater portion ofi Cyprus : it would certainly be impossible for anyi species of tree to thrive upon the extensive range of; hills near. Arpera, which are absolutely valueless. In many places the surface glistened with ice-like' sheets of gypsum, which cropped out of the cold white] marls and produced a wintry appearance that increased.! the desolation. I walked for some hours over successive'} ranges of the same hopeless character. Great numbers] of hawks and several varieties of eagles were hunt-j ing above the hill-tops, and sufficiently explained theJ scarcity of game. The red-legged partridges founds little protection in the scant cover afforded by the "' withered plants, and I saw one captured and carried off by an eagle, who was immediately chased by two others; of the same species, in the vain hope that he would givei up his prize ; he soared high in air with the partridge hanging from his claws. On the same day I saw another capture, and there can be little doubt that thepartridge forms the usual food of these large birds of " prey. The British government has already protected the! game by establishing a close season and by a tax upori all guns ; but there will be little benefit from the nevvl law unless a reward shall be offered for the destruction^ of the birds of prey which swarm in every portion o f the island—eagles, falcons, kites, hawks, ravens, crows,, and last, but in cunning and destructive propensity not

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