254 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM CORSICA. 

 By Herbert C. Playne (Clifton College). 



The days from the 10th to the 21st of April I spent in Corsica, 

 walking from Ajaccio across the island over some high mountains 

 to the east coast, where there is a tract of flat country, and then 

 back again into the mountains to Corte. In some parts birds 

 were very abundant, and the following is a list of the species I 

 was able to identify. The birds were not so forward with their 

 nesting as I had expected, and I found no nests at all containing 

 eggs, though there were a good many nearly ready for them. 



It is a land of Goldfinches and Serins, and Cirl Buntings too 

 are very numerous. 



Missel Thrush, Turdus viscivorus. — A few fairly high up in 

 the mountains. 



Blackbird, T. merula.— Fairly common. 



Blue Rock Thrush, Monticola cyanus.—I saw a few among 

 the mountains. The cock sings from the top of a rock, and 

 then flies up in the air and descends, still singing, to another 

 rock. I saw one descend in this way some distance down the 

 mountain side. 



Wheatear, Saxicola cenanthe. — One near the top of the 

 mountains by Corte, and others by the sea-shore near Ajaccio. 



Whinchat, Pratincola rubetra. — I saw one near Corte on 

 April 20th. 



Stonechat, P. rubicola. — Abundant. 



Redstart, Ruticilla phcenicurus. — I saw a few only. 



Redbreast, Erithacus rubecula. — Fairly common. 



Nightingale, Daulias luscinia. — There were a few near the 

 east coast, and near Ajaccio. 



Sardinian Warbler, Sylvia melanocephala. — Abundant on 

 the lower mountain slopes. His song seems to vary a good deal, 

 and he has a rattling alarm-note. I found two nests, much like 

 those of the Blackcap, not quite ready for eggs. 



