Notes from Corsica. 39 



91. CiTRiL Finch. Chrysomitris citrinella. 



Commoa and resident. This little Finch in winter may be 

 seen in large flocks about the towns^ but with the spring retires 

 to the higher elevations to nest ; but on the 29th of April I 

 found a nest on the sea-coast with young birds a few days old. 

 On 14'th May I found a nest with four fresh eggs ; but higher 

 up the mountains many birds had not built their nests by 

 the end of May. The nest^ generally placed in an arbutus 

 bushj is composed of grass-stems, lined with feathers, being 

 rather a rude affair in comparison with those of other Finches. 

 Eggs four, like those of the Goldfinch. 



92. Siskin. Chrysomitris spinus. 



Only met with on my second visit. I shot a male on Feb- 

 ruary 4th : the birds remained until nearly the end of March. 



93. Serin Finch. Serinus hortulanus. 



Common and resident, but not quite so plentiful as the 

 Citril. The Serin, unlike the Citril, Finch prefers to nest in 

 the olive and cork trees, often quite close to the villages. 

 Both birds have a very pretty habit in the nesting-time of 

 rocking themselves about in the air, singing all the while, 

 as though their life depended on it. I took two nests with 

 fresh eggs on 8th and 16th April. The nest is a much more 

 beautiful bit of work than the Citril's ; it is round and 

 neatly made, a good deal of spider's web and lichen being 

 used, and neatly lined with short hair. The eggs four, like 

 those of the Goldfinch, but smaller. 



94. Greenfinch. Ligurinus chloris. 

 Common and resident. 



95. Hawfinch. Coccothraustes vulgaris. 



Fairly common and resident, but very local. I only saw 

 one bird on the west coast. Took two beautiful nests, with 

 six and four eggs respectively — on 16th May quite fresh, 

 and 6th June much sat upon. 



96. Italian Sparrow. Passer italicB. 



Very common and resident. Is rather a late breeder ; 

 the boys brought in many eggs quite fresh on 8th June. 



