Ornithology of Corsica. 203 



Local names : Pinzilione (north), Pincione (soutli). 



An extremely common and widely distributed resident, 

 breeding in summer not only on the low ground but also in 

 the mountain forests to well over 3000 ft. at least, and 

 probably higher. Corsican birds appear to belong to a fairly 

 recognisable race, in which the colour of the whole upper 

 side is darker, while the black on the wings is remarkably 

 deep. Parrot (Orn. Jalirb. xxi. p. 137), however, states that 

 he has a precisely similar specimen from W. Prussia in 

 autumn ! Besides the ordinary notes to which we are 

 accustomed in England the Corsican bird has also a long 

 drawn out. Greenfinch-like note, which I have noticed in 

 Denmark and other parts of the Continent. Whitehead 

 took the first eggs on May 11, but on one occasion I found 

 young on May 9, though many fresh clutches, usually with 

 4, sometimes 5 eggs, were found in the latter part of May. 

 Average size of 13 Corsican eggs, 19' 13 x 14*98 mm, ; max. 

 20-3 X 15-5, min. 18 x 15 and 18'5 X 14-4. 



22. Fringilla MONTiFRiNGiLLA L. Brambliug. 



Local name: Pi«^«o/o (Giglioii). Winter visitor: recorded 

 by Giglioli on passage in October, and by Parrot twice from 

 the Ajaccio market, as well as in small flocks on the Campo 

 de L'Oro on February 7 and 15. 



23. Petronia PETRONiA HELLMAYRi Am'goni. Sardinian 

 Rock-Sparrow. 



Petronia petronia hdlmayri Arrigoni, Avicula, vi. p. 104 

 (1902— Sardinia). 



A local resident in small numl)ers. Wharton and Parrot 

 record it from the neighbourhood of Ajaccio in December 

 and March. It must also breed in this district, as Parrot 

 subsequently received a specimen on May 27. Whitehead 

 saw very few on the west coast, but met with one or two 

 small flocks on the east side in winter and also found a few 

 pairs, evidently nestiug, in high mountains at the end of May. 

 I saw a few near Solenzara on May 7; and on May 10, 

 while inspecting a nest of the Red Kite, Milvus milvus, was 

 interested to see a number of Sparrows going in and out of 



