Ornithology of Corsica. 201 



are resident. According to Dr. Parrot the specimens ob- 

 tained in winter belonged to the small Mediterranean race. 

 Whitehead saw a pair building in a high valley among tlie 

 mountains on Marcli \7 , and Playne describes this species as 

 common in the hills in April, We came across a pair 

 or two wliich haunted some rocky islets off the east coast on 

 May 15, and must have been breeding there. 



18. Carduelis ciTRiNELLA coRsicANA (Koenig). Corsican 

 Citril Finch. 



Citrinella corsicana Koenig, Ornith. Monatsber. vii. p. 120 

 (1899— Corsica). 



Local names : Ouvaron ; Lueru (Giglioli). Tliis very 

 distinct form, easily recognisable by its brown back and 

 yellowish rump, was figured by Dresser in the ' Birds of 

 Europe,' vol. iii. pi. 167, as the winter plumage of the Citril 

 Finch, from specimens obtained by Lord Lilford in 1875. 

 It is a common resident, in the summer months chiefly 

 confined to the mountains, though a few pairs breed in the 

 "macchia^' on tlie hill-sides close to the sea, but descending 

 to the low ground in the winter and consorting with Serins, 

 Goldfinches, and Linnets. In some of the more open parts 

 of the mountains, where the forest is replaced by low scrub 

 and scattered trees, it is extremely numerous, and its musical 

 notes may be heard in all directions among the macchia. 

 Whitehead (^ Ibis,' 1885, p. 39) gives a good description of 

 the nest, and notes the variation in the breeding-season 

 according to altitude. He met with young a few days old 

 near the coast on April 29, while on May 14 he found 

 fresh eggs in the hills, and higher still some birds had not 

 built by the end of May. Average size of 8 Corsican 

 eggs, 17*65x13 4 mm,; max. 19 x 13'5 and 18*2 x 13*7, 

 min. 16 x 12'5. 



19. Skrinus canarius serinus (L.). Serin. 



Local names : Ziarina (north), Verdone (south) ; Zive^'ino 

 (Giglioli). This is another very common and characteristic 

 resident, the numbers of which are increased during the winter 

 by immigrants. It is most plentiful on the low ground and 



