10



Philip Gosse—Birds of the Balearic Islands



Wagtail is very common in the marshes and pine-woods bordering on

the sea at Alcudia. Many of them seemed to spend their whole time

amongst the branches of the stunted pines.


* An thus trivialis trivialis .—One Tree Pipit was seen at Alcudia,

and two seen and one shot at Iviza on April 16. The latter turned out

to be a female.


*Anthus campestris campestris. —Two Tawny Pipits were seen

together at Alcudia on April 4, close to the shore. Both proved to be

males. This Pipit was fairly common at Alcudia. A few were met

with in Iviza, mostly close to the town. Others were also noticed in

Formentera.


*Petronia petronia. —Two specimens of the Rock Sparrow were

obtained in Iviza. I am doubtful whether they belong to the typical

race or to the Sardinian subspecies (P. p. hellmayri).


*Parus major corsus. —The Corsican Great Tit was common in all

the islands, and particularly plentiful in the pine - woods on the

mountains. Its note is quite different to that of the British Great Tit,

and on first hearing it I failed to recognize what bird the call belonged

to. No other species of Tit was seen. It must be mentioned that

this Titmouse from the Balearic Islands has been separated as distinct

from P. m. corsus by A. von Jordans ( Falco halle 9, 1913, pp. 43-4),

but more material is required before this point can be satisfactorily

settled. In the meantime I think it wiser to use the name here

employed.


*Ianius senator balms. —I saw one Sardinian Woodchat Shrike in

the pine-woods at Alcudia. Later at Santa Eulalia, Iviza, it was fairly

numerous. None were seen in Formentera. The occurrence of the

Sardinian Woodchat in the Balearic Islands has not previously been

recorded, and is of considerable interest.


*Sylvia communis communis .—The first Whitethroat was seen on

April 8 at Alcudia. Not identified in the other islands.


Sylvia curruca. —The only Lesser Whitethroat was seen at Alcudia

on April 7.


Sylvia atricapilla. —The Blackcap was one of the commonest birds

to be seen at Alcudia ; males greatly outnumbered the females. Not

nearly so plentiful in Iviza



