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 œnanthe.—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 phœnicurus.—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.
