280 ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL 



Russia. Our information respecting the bird in Eastern Europe is 

 excessively meagre, as is generally the case with Russian ornithology. "We 

 are informed that it breeds in Curland by Goebel (J. f. 0. 1873, p. 14) ; and 

 Fischer records it as found at Smolensk, in the St.-Petersburg district 

 (J. f. O. 1872, p. 386). Dr. Taczanowski says that it is not mentioned in 

 any of the Avell-known Russian lists, but is known to occur in the Government 

 of Kiew, though Prof. Kessler himself has not seen it. 



Von Nordmann states that it is rare in Southern Russia. He accounts 

 for its absence by the unsuitabihty of the country to the species. He 

 mentions a specimen which was captured near Odessa in September 1837, 

 and remarks that it was of the pale form, with the under surface white. It 

 is not mentioned by Menetries in his list of the birds of the Caucasus. 



Greece. Lord Lilford says that he never heard of it on the mainland, 

 but he found it common in the island of Corfu, where it breeds in the old 

 fortifications about the town (Ibis, 1860, p. 133). Dr. Lindermayer (Vog. 

 Griechenl. p. 33) has never met with it himself; nor is it included by Erhardt 

 as occurring in the Cyclades. Count von der Miihle obtained a single 

 specimen, which was caught in open daylight by hand in the rocks at 

 Palamides, near Nauplia : the bird was white on the lower surface. 



Italy. Salvador! (Ucc. Ital. p. 27) states that it is found in every part 

 of the country. 



Sicily. According to Doderlein (Avif. Sicil. p. 48) it is common and 

 resident. 



Sardinia. Very common, teste Cara (Orn. Sard. p. 20). 



AJalta. Mr. Wright observes (Ibis, 1864, p. 49) :— " A few of these 

 birds are to be seen at all seasons, for the most part about the battlements 

 of Valetta and the Three Cities, where they breed in the ruined walls. Fresh 

 arrivals appear to arrive in spring and autumn." 



