The Bird Life of Corsica. 



By F. C. R. Jourdain, Ashburne. 



The following- brief account of the Bird life of Corsica is 

 based upon the results of two visits paid to the Island in 1908 and 

 1909 by the writer. In order to make the list more complete the 

 results of the labours of previous workers have been included. 

 The ornithological literature of Corsica is however, somewhat 

 scanty. References to the birds of the island occur in various 

 books of travel, and also in several works on the ornithology of 

 Italy, but the list of papers dealing solely with the ornithology 

 of the island is a very brief one. 



1876. C. B. Wharton, 'Notes on the Ornithology of Corsica'. 

 Ibis, 1876, pp. 17 — 29. A list of 1 13 species observed during 

 nearly 8 months residence in Corsica, of which 90 were 

 killed and the remaining 23 carefully identified. Most of 

 Wharton's work was done on the W. Coast, although he 

 also visited Bastia and Aleria and spent two days in Corte. 



1876. Supplementary note by W. Jesse, t. cit., 1876 p. 380 — 383. 

 Seven additional species obtained in 1865 — 6, and seven 

 procured in 1875. 



1885. J. Whitehead, 'Ornithological Notes from Corsica', Ibis, 

 1885, pp. 24 — 48. An excellent annotated list of 176 

 species, obtained during 15 months stay on the island from 

 Nov. 1882 to June 1883, and including field notes on 8itta 

 wMteheadij which had already been described in the P. Z. S. 

 1884, p. 233, 329, 414 (pi. XXXVI) by R. B. Sharpe. 



1890. E. H. Giglioli, 'Elenco delle specie di uccelli osservate in 

 Corsica' etc. Primo resoconto dei risultati delia inchiesta 

 ornitologica in Italia. Parte seconda. Avifaune locali, 

 pp. 631 — 642. List of 220 species observed or obtained in 

 the autumns of 1877 and 1889 including those already 

 recorded by Wharton and Whitehead. Of these 26 species 

 rest on Giglioli's authority alone, some only by report, 

 requiring confirmation. 



1891. J. Backhouse, 'Winter notes from Corsica'. Zoologist, 1891, 

 pp. 371 — 376. List of about 76 species. 



1897. H. C. Playne, 'Ornithological Notes from Corsica', Zool. 

 1897, pp. 254 — 257. List of 59 species observed in April. 

 (Correction, t. c. 1898, p. 275.) 



