Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/282

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days from the 10th to the 21st of April I spent in Corsica, walking from Ajaccio across the island over some high mountains to the east coast, where there is a tract of flat country, and then back again into the mountains to Corte. In some parts birds were very abundant, and the following is a list of the species I was able to identify. The birds were not so forward with their nesting as I had expected, and I found no nests at all containing eggs, though there were a good many nearly ready for them.

It is a land of Goldfinches and Serins, and Cirl Buntings too are very numerous.

Turdus viscivorus.—A few fairly high up in the mountains.

T. merula.— Fairly common.

Monticola cyanus.—I saw a few among the mountains. The cock sings from the top of a rock, and then flies up in the air and descends, still singing, to another rock. I saw one descend in this way some distance down the mountain side.

Saxicola œnanthe.—One near the top of the mountains by Corte, and others by the sea-shore near Ajaccio.

Pratincola rubetra.—I saw one near Corte on April 20th.

P. rubicola.—Abundant.

Ruticilla phœnicurus.—I saw a few only.

Erithacus rubecula.—Fairly common.

Daulias luscinia.—There were a few near the east coast, and near Ajaccio.

Sylvia melanocephala.—Abundant on the lower mountain slopes. His song seems to vary a good deal, and he has a rattling alarm-note. I found two nests, much like those of the Blackcap, not quite ready for eggs.