ACCENTOR MODULA.RI.S 131 



tively rare occurrence in North-west Africa, being fonnd there merely 

 as a straggler or occasional winter visitor. 



In Tunisia I have never met with the species, but I am informed 

 that it has been found there occasionally in winter. Loche states 

 that it is to be met with in Algeria, but is of very accidental occurrence 

 (Expl. Scient. Alg. Ois. i, p. 284). In Marocco it apparently also 

 occurs as a winter migrant, and Colonel Irby mentions having seen 

 specimens of it from the African side of the Straits (Orn. Strs. 

 Gib. p. 84). 



There seems to be no record of the species having ever nested 

 south of the Mediterranean, or indeed on the northern shores of that 

 sea, although it breeds in the mountain valleys of North Italy. In 

 South Italy and its islands the bird seems to be merely a winter 

 migrant, although by no means uncommon in some parts during the 

 colder months. 



The species frequents gardens and hedgerows in the vicinity of 

 human habitations, and being remarkably tame and easy to approach, 

 should be easily identified when met with in countries like North-west 

 Africa, where it is of uncommon occurrence. Its food consists of 

 worms, insects and their larvae, as well as seeds, and when feeding 

 it may often be seen on the ground. Its song, though short, is 

 particularly sweet and pleasing. 



The Alpine Accentor {A. collaris), so far as I am aware, is 

 unrecorded from North-west Africa, or indeed from any part of the 

 African Continent. The species, however, appears to be a regular 

 winter visitor to the island of Sicily, and is met with there not 

 unfrequently during the colder months. Doderlein also obtained 

 specimens of it, in two successive autumns, on the small island of 

 Ustica, lying about forty miles to the north of Palermo, when the 

 species was no doubt on its way to Sicily. The same author makes 

 some interesting remarks regarding this annual and apparently 

 regular migration of an Alpine species like A. collaris to Sicily 

 (Avif. Mod. et Sic. p. 336). 



