the Birds of Mauritius. 89 



12. PlIEDINA BORBONICA. 



Phedina borbonica Sharpe, Cat. Birds, x. p. 122. 



Grosse Hiroudelle. 



These Swallows were formerly very abundant, but were 

 almost completely killed off during the cyclone of 1861. 

 They are now reduced to a few colonies and never stray far 

 from the coast. 



At Case Noyale they are fairly common and tliere is a 

 large colony near Beau Cham[) on the south coast of the 

 island. They were breeding in January 1911. 



This species wmII probably increase to its former abundance, 

 as it is not persecuted by local gunners. 



13. * Passer domesticus. 



Passer domesticus Sharpe, Cat. Birds, xii. p. 307. 



Le Moineau. 



House-Sparrow. 



The Sparrow was introduced into Mauritius comparatively 

 recently. The story goes that a British soldier brought 

 a single pair out from home with him as a souvenir of 

 the old country, but that he died at Port Louis and on his 

 dying request the birds were liberated. 



They are now numerous all over the island, but have a 

 bleached dull appearance compared with the English bird. 



14. * Serinus canicollis. 



Serinus canicollis Sharpe, Cat. Birds, xii. p. 350. 



Serin du Pays. 



Introduced over one hundred years ago from South 

 Africa. 



It used to be very plentiful in cultivated parts, but after 

 the cyclone of 1892 the bird completely disappeared and 

 is now extinct in Mauritius. It is still, liowever, plentiful 

 in Reunion and will probably be reintroduced to Mauritius. 



15. * Serinus ICTERUS. 



Seritms icterus Sharpe, Cat. Birds, xii. p. 356. 

 Serin du Cap. 



