Herbert Clement Playne

“ 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. ”

“ Serin Finch, Serinus hortulanus.—These birds were as abundant in the higher ground as the Goldfinches were in the lower. They too were in flocks, singing and calling to each other all over the mountain slopes. The yellow rump is conspicuous when the bird is flying. ”

“ 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. ”