The Bird life ol Corsica. 371 



1901. A. Koenig, J. f. O., 1901, p. 99 [Note on Sitta lohiteheadi 

 and Chrysomitrh citrinella corsicana etc.]. Cf. also Orn. 

 Monatsber. VII. p. 120 (1899). 



1910. C. Parrot, 'Beiträge zur Ornithologie der Insel Korsika'. 

 Orn. Jahrb., 1910, pp. 121 — 166, 201 — 216 etc. (in progress). 

 Cf. Orn. Monatsber., 1910, p. 153. 



191 1. F. C. R. Jourdain, 'Notes on the Ornithology of Corsica'. 

 Ibis, 191 1, pp. 189 — 208 etc. (in progress). 



Other ornithologists who have visited Corsica are Lord 

 Lilford, A. D. Sapsworth (1900), R. H. Read (who accompanied 

 the writer in 1909) and Dr. G. Schiebel (1910); while many- 

 Sardinian forms which also occur in Corsica have been described 

 by Pf. O. Kleinschmidt in the Ornithol. Monatsberichte and Falco, 

 and Dr. Schiebel in the Ornithol. Jahrbuch, 1910, p. 102 has 

 separated seven Corsican forms. 



A few words with regard to the physical character of the 

 country may not be out of place. By far the greater part of the 

 interior of the island is occupied by a lofty and rugged chain of 

 mountains, diverging in different directions, the highest peaks of 

 which attain to a height of nearly 8900 ft. On the E. side these 

 mountains are separated from the sea by a belt of low lying land, 

 varying in width. In the northern part of this strip lies the Lake 

 of Biguglia and in the neighbourhood of Aleria are numerous 

 étangs. This low ground is well wooded with the cork oak, and 

 the olive and vine also grow freely. On the W. side the mountains 

 descend sharply to the sea as a rule and are for the most part 

 covered with magnificent forests of pine, Spanish chesnut and 

 beech. The great pine forest of Vizzavona alone is estimated to 

 cover some 60 000 acres, and is composed of two species of pine, 

 Pinus pinaster or maritima and P. laricio corsicana. But one of 

 the most striking features to the stranger is the interminable 

 covering of scrub which clothes the hillsides and much of the low 

 ground with a fragrant growth of cistus, broom, arbutus, lentiscus, 

 myrtle and other shrubs, and forms a secure retreat for the 

 smaller birds. 



Abbieviaiions: (W.) = C. B. Wharton. (J. W.) = J. Whitehead. (G.) = 

 H. Giglioli. (P..) = J. Baclihouse. (P.) = H. C. Plavne. (J.) = F. Jourdain. 

 'S.) = G. Seh' -el. (C. P.) = C. Parrot. 



1. Sardinian Raven, Corvus corax sardus Kleinsch. [Orn. 

 Monatsber. 1903, p. 92]. Fairly common resident (W., J. W.). 

 Breeds chiefly in the rocks along the coast, but also in smaller 

 numbers in crags in the hills, laying 5 or 6 eggs "about the 

 end of March or the beginning of April. The young, though 

 well fledged, remain in the nest till late in May. 



2. Sardinian Hooded Crow, C. comix sardonius Kleins. [Orn. 

 Monatsber. 1903, p. 92]. A decidedly common resident in 



