372 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



scorched ; while many a fair Italian town was subjected to a 

 heavy fall of snow. While so severe a winter might naturally 

 have been expected to drive into such a (comparatively) warm 

 country as Corsica many a rare bird unknown there before, yet 

 in the neighbourhood of Ajaccio nothing of very special interest 

 appeared to our knowledge, nor yet on the eastern coast. A 

 careful study nevertheless of the true winter avifauna of the 

 regions visited gave some interesting and useful results. 



It was not a little instructive to watch the Ajaccio market 

 week after week, the daily round becoming more and more 

 fascinating, according to one's familiarity with the stock-in-trade 

 of each stall-holder. In all some eighty species were clearly 

 identified by us, either in the markets, by the aid of the gun, or 

 telescope ; while several others are better left without comment, 

 because, not being perfectly identified, they can in no way add to 

 the value of this paper. In the low country bordering the sea 

 on the western coast, it was almost impossible to walk a mile 

 without being struck by the extraordinary abundance of small 

 birds, and some wonderful figures were reported to us respecting 

 the quantity of Blackbirds and Thrushes exported from the island, 

 principally to France, during a single season. 



Owing to lack of opportunity, no Gulls could be clearly 

 identified, either on the east or west coasts, except the Black- 

 headed Gull, L. ridibundus, though some Herring Gulls about the 

 harbour of Ajaccio were presumably referable to the yellow-legged 

 form (L. cachinnans, Pall.). 



In the high pine-forests, the snow was too deep to admit of 

 much good work. The majority of our field observations there- 

 fore were confined to such birds as could be observed in the 

 proximity of the towns or villages, or on the lower hills bordering 

 the Meditteranean. 



Turdus viscivorus, Linn., T. musicus, Linn. — Exceedingly 

 common. Numbers sold in the markets for food. 



T. iliacus, Linn. — Not so common, but often noted. 



T. merula, Linn. — Everywhere in the low country in vast 

 numbers, and also common in the more mountainous districts. 



Monticola cyanas (Linn.). — Difficult to obtain a sight of alive, 

 but commonly brought into the markets. 



Pratincola rubicola (Linn.). — Everywhere abundant. 



Ruticilla titys (Scop.).— A few pairs observed near Ajaccio. 



