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abundant in Tangiers as in Spain; and Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt Drake procured it in Morocco. 

 Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., found it common in Algeria; and Loche says that "in Algeria it is 

 very common, and amongst the Arabs bears the name of Derris ; its flight is rapid and noisy, 

 and it is very shy. It frequents chiefly the plains and marshes, in which it is often observed in 

 large flocks." Mr. Osbert Salvin records it as " everywhere very abundant in the eastern Atlas." 

 Mrs. Strickland also kindly writes us word that Sir William Jardine's collection contains a 

 specimen from Tunis. Mr. C. A. Wright, in his list of the birds of Malta, gives the following 

 note : — " This well-known bird is more or less common during the greater part of the year. It 

 is especially abundant in the breeding-season, in March, April, and May, when its nest is one of 

 the commonest of the few found here." Professor Doderlein states that this species is abundant 

 and resident in Sicily in all seasons, especially during winter in the low districts of the Madonia, 

 becoming somewhat rarer in the neighbourhood of Palermo. He found it nesting near Syracuse, 

 along the Anapo. In Sardinia it is very common." As regards Italy, he adds, " In the Modena 

 district it is an annual breeder ; and some remain throughout the year, gathering into flocks in 

 the open country on the approach of cold weather, until the month of March, when they separate 

 into pairs; others migrate in autumn, returning in spring." Seidensacher says it is not very 

 common in Styria. It arrives there in March, and remains to breed. 



According to Von der Miihle it breeds in Greece, and is particularly abundant in autumn 

 and winter. Lindermayer says that it is resident, breeding early in April in the southern 

 portions of that country, and early in May in the northern parts. On the plains it is numerous 

 from October to the end of April, and during the summer inhabits the higher mountains. 

 Lord Lilford observes that it occurs sparingly in Corfu and Epirus in winter. The Strickland 

 collection has a specimen obtained in Anatolia by the late owner. " In Turkey in Europe 

 and Asia Minor," writes our good friend Mr. Robson, " this species is very numerous and is 

 widely distributed, being principally found in large valleys and open plains, also on cultivated 

 and uncultivated uplands, never on the dry mountains, and rarely where mountains are covered 

 with forest or dense shrubbery." Professor von Nordmann says that it is very numerous through- 

 out Southern Russia. But few are seen in winter ; and it is to be inferred that most of them 

 migrate further south. Professor Kessler writes respecting this species as follows : — " It is found 

 everywhere (in the governments of Volhynia, Podolia, and Kiew), but only lives in certain 

 places; and it is impossible to give reasons for its local distribution. Eor instance, I have 

 met with it in three quite different localities, such as the village of Zorin, near the town of 

 Kamenka in the district of Czigirinsk in Kiew, and, lastly, near the village of Wychwatince, on 

 the left bank of the Dniester, in the district of Balta in Podolia. It is not found during the 

 summer in the districts near Kiew, but only appears in autumn during migration. I do not 

 know whether it winters with us; but I have never seen it in winter. Professor Bogdanoff says 

 that he has never seen it on the central Volga, as Eickbeil at Sarepta. According to Eversmann 

 it is only found on the banks of the southern Volga. Severtzoff found it in the government of 

 Woronetz, and includes it amongst the common summer residents." 



Our friend Dr. Taczanowski writes to us : — " It is common and sedentary in Poland. Its 

 northern limits are in the narrowest part of the province of Augustow, exactly at the town of 

 Szezuczyn, situated in 53° N. lat. and 40° E. long. It appears to observe this frontier most 



