881 
Letters , Announcements , tyc. 
tion at which they were found, height of flight while migrating, 
&c., I think he would be rendering good service by furnishing 
data which would at all events assist in throwing some light 
on the details of the mystery of migratory journeys, a class 
of information much required. 
Except for its geographical position in connexion with the 
question of migration, lying, as it does, in a direct line with 
the African coast, Sardinia, and the shores of Southern 
Europe, I consider that Corsica offers but a poor field to the 
ornithologist. 
In the case of Hirundo rustica , I noticed, as did Mr. Wharton, 
that amongst a large flock seen on the 17th April, near Lake 
Bigulia, the colouring of the belly appeared to vary much; 
so we shot a large series in hopes of identifying H. rufula ) 
but did not succeed. The bellies of those obtained varied 
from pure white to pale chestnut. 
Merops apiaster merits some notice, as the conditions under 
which we met with that bird suggest to my mind that Corsica 
is only a temporary halting-place for many of the summer 
migrants from Africa. This bird was first observed at the 
end of April; and though undoubtedly many remain to breed 
amongst the sand banks near the lagoons on the east coast, 
still the main body of these birds pass on northwards to the 
mainland. The Bee-eaters we saw were flying northwards 
at a considerable altitude, out of gunshot. 
Turdus merula also deserves a notice. This species is very 
plentiful during the winter; and a few remain to breed. Mr. 
Wharton and myself found two nests with eggs on the 15th 
and 17th April. Both T. merula and T. musicus are essen¬ 
tially winter visitants, arriving, as they do, in thousands—so 
much so, that the right of snaring these birds is let to Italians, 
who come over expressly for the purpose of capturing them. 
The greatest part of the catch 99 is either converted into 
Pate de Merles de Corse , a delicacy much esteemed on the 
continent, or the birds themselves are shipped to Marseilles 
in the flesh. They are of three qualities :—1st, those that feed 
on the berries of the myrtle; 2nd, those that subsist on the 
fruit of the juniper ; 3rd, those that feed on the olive,—-and are 
