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OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS SINGING IN THEIR 
WINTER QUARTERS AND ON MIGRATION. 
BY 
C. J. ALEXANDER, B.Sc. (AGRIC.). 
T.—StncinG oF BrrRps IN THEIR WINTER QUARTERS. 
In an article on “ Early Drumming of the Snipe ” (Brit. Birds, 
Vol. VI., pp.' 354- 359), Capt. Lynes suggested that ‘ “ winter- 
songsters are those individuals which are sedentary or perform 
comparatively short migration journeys.’ During five years 
in Rome, I was able to make extensive notes on the singing 
of a number of species which occur there as winter visitors ; 
it should be stated that the vegetation in many localities 
in or near Rome (including the Villa Umberto I., where a 
large part of my observations was made) is not ver y different 
from that of the more northern countries from which several 
of the species come. This may afford some explanation of 
the difference between my experience and that of Capt. Lynes 
in the Mediterranean region (/.c., p. 358). 
The following is a list of most of the singing birds met with 
as winter visitors, either generally or locally :— 
STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)—Large flocks winter in the 
hills; they frequently sing, especially towards evening. 
HawrFincu (Coccothraustes c. coccothraustes).—Resident in 
the hills, but in Rome a winter visitor, sometimes in con- 
siderable numbers. The wintering birds sing freely from 
the end of January to near the time of their departure about 
the middle of March. 
SIskiIN (Carduelis spinus)—A regular winter visitor to 
the alders round the Lake of Albano and other suitable 
localities. Frequently sings from about Christmas onwards, 
leaving in the second half of March. It is interesting to 
note that I have heard Goldfinch, Siskin and Serin all singing 
together in olive trees. 
BuLuFIncH (Pyrrhula p. europea).—Winters in the hill 
woods, and sings occasionally in early spring; breeds in 
the mountains from about 1,000 m. (3,000 ft.). 
CHAFFINCH (Fringilla c. caelebs)—Only present in winter 
(mid October to early April) near the Tiber mouth; never 
heard singing there. 
Rock-Buntine (Hmberiza cia)—Winters in the Alban 
Hills and near the coast ; never heard singing in its winter 
quarters. 
Woop-LarK (Lullula arborea)—Only a winter visitor to 
Rome and the Tiber delta, where it stays from October to 
early March. Never heard singing, though resident in- 
