Collection of Birds from the Mediterranean. 1G3 



Egypt. — Only noted 28tli August aud 20tli September. 

 Single birds on migration. 



Crete. — Only noted 28tli April. Single male on migration 

 Testes small. 



Athens. — Seen 21st April. Single male on migration. 



Lemnos. — 7th September. Two dull-plumaged birds on 

 migration. 



Malta. — 16tli April. Female with small ovaries, on 

 migration. 



Sardinia. — Seen 3rd May. Single male, evidently on 

 migration. 



All three males seen in spring were single : these birds have 

 the habit of frequently vibrating the tail from side to side, 

 just like the Redstart. 



The stomachs of those collected contained beetles and in 

 one case grasshoppers as well. 



MONTICOLA SOLITARIUS SOLITARIUS (L.). {M. CtjanUS ViWCi.) 



The Blue Rock-Thrush was met Avith all over the Mediter- 

 ranean Avherever suitable rocky localities existed, often in 

 quite low sea-cliffs as well as inland. 



No trace of any migratory movement was ever observed. 



In the breeding-season the males have the habit of singing 

 with a butterfly-like flight that characterises most Warblers 

 of the genus Sylvia under similar influences. 



In Malta, where the young are much in request as cage- 

 birds, the nests seem to be more than usually well concealed, 

 and are very diflicult to find. One nest was in almost com- 

 plete darkness on a ledge inside a cave with a small 

 entrance. 



CEnANTHE (ENANTUE* (L.). 



The Common Wheatear was met with, on migration only, 

 from east to west of the Mediterranean. The species was 

 one of the first to start on the autumn migration, and was 

 constantly seen at sea in August. Numbers were migrating 

 at Mitylene on 3rd August. 



* For the reason for the omission of the third name in this case, see 

 under Coccothrcmsies, p. 124. 



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