Collection of Birds from the Mediterranean. \Qd 



LUSCINIA MEGAHHYiNCHA JIEGARHYNCHA Brelim, [L. luS- 



cinia auct.) 



The Nightingale was met with breeding in Sicily and 

 Spain, but only as a migrant elsewhere. 



Egypt. — The migration had started by 2nd August^ and 

 was over about the equinox, but the numbers were few com- 

 jjured to the " Sprossers." 



Crete.— Y'\r%t noted 29th jNIarch. Numbers quite small. 

 No evidence of breeding up to 28th April. 



Lemnos. — Noted on migration from 20tli August to Gth 

 September. One shot 22nd August, male adult. 



Malta. — Plentiful migrant, first seen 29th March. 



The stomachs of two obtained in Greece and Egj^pt 

 contained small beetles and flies. 



LusciNiA LUSCINIA (L.). [L. pMlomcla auct.) 

 " Sprossers " were observed on migration in Egypt only. 

 Their passage was well under way on 23rd August, when 

 they were quite plentiful in the day-time, resting principally 

 in the trees, but also in small bushes, drains, and indeed any 

 sort of cover. On being flushed one of them (though quite 

 able to fly) ran like a rat across the sand for some yards to 

 the next bush. On one occasion only (26th August), when 

 1 was watching some, one of them uttered a few notes of 

 song, but otherwise they always expressed their disapproval 

 of an intrusion by croaks, and jerks of the tail. 



LUSCINIA SUECICA SUECICA (L.). 



LusciNiA SUECICA voLG^ (Kleiuschm.) . 



In Egypt the Bluethroat (not met with elsewhere) was 

 an abundant winter visitor. It arrived at Port Said in 

 mid- October and reached winter proportions by the end of 

 November. 



Bluethroats appeared to go to roost earlier than other 

 birds, but they were also the earliest risers, and their fussy 

 little chirps and squeaks might be heard before it was light 

 enough to see them even at close range. The early morning 

 was the best time for observation, for it was onl}' then that 

 they would leave their haunts in the boggy undergrowth 



