A Bird Watcher in France 



79 



like the young Rooks, are used for food. During the season one pair of 

 Sparrows will contribute several broods of young toward the food-supply of 

 their human host. 



France has many splendid song-birds. The Robin or Redbreast (Erithacus 

 rubecula), Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) , Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Woodlark 

 (Alauda arbor ea), and Blackbird are among the best. I am not sure that I heard 

 the Nightingale, but if I did I will give any of the above a place ahead of him as 

 a songster. One May night, in Coblenz, Germany, I heard a bird singing which 

 was said by a native to be the 'nachtigall.'' It sounded like someone blowing a 

 bird-whistle — the kind in which water is employed to produce the warbling 

 effect. I think that the famous Skylark is the most gifted songster that I have 

 ever heard, and to watch him in his ecstasy is to behold one of the most wonder- 

 ful spectacles of nature. He begins to sing as he takes to the air and continues 

 to sing without interruption as he mounts, hovers, soars, and, finally, after a 

 moment or so of this supreme expression of musical exuberance, drops again to 

 the ground. The song of the Lark is more than a song; it is a musical play and 

 the sky is his stage. From early March until late summer, from dawn until 

 dusk, his voice may be heard; even in the driving rain I have watched him sing. 



One more especially remarkable bird is the brilliant little Kingfisher (Al- 

 cedo ispida). The first time I saw him was in September, 191 8, while I was swim- 

 ming in the River Meuse. It is said that the feathers of this species are used 

 in the manufacture of artificial fish bait, probably because of some special 

 lure with which the plumage of this little fisherman is believed to effect his 

 prey. Swimming, by the way, with the body submerged in the water, is a very 

 good means by which to observe birds at close range, as they often show no 

 fear of a human head apparently detached and floating aimlessly about in the 

 water. Thus I have sometimes been able to encroach within a few feet of beach 

 birds on the Florida coast, that would, ordinarily, require a high-power field- 

 glass for satisfactory observation. The method is not original with me, I 

 having acquired it from an enthusiastic and resourceful bird-watcher of 

 Knoxville, Tenn. 



Space will permit me to mention only the remaining birds of my list, 

 although the Water Ouzel (Cinculus aquaticus) and the Wryneck (Lynx 

 torquilla) are as odd and remarkable as their names sound. The others are: 

 Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) ; Song Thrush (Tardus musicus); Wheatear (Saxicola 

 cenanthe); Whinchat (Pratincola rubetra); Stonechat (Pratincola rubicola); 

 Redstart (Ruticilla phoenicurus) ; Black Redstart (Ruticilla titys), nest with 

 young June 8, 1919, located in niche in wall of Casino (Officers' Club) , Coblenz; 

 Whitethroat (Sylvia cinerea); Goldcrest (Regulus cristatus), very similar to our 

 Golden-crowned Kinglet; Hedge Sparrow (Accentor modular is) ; Nuthatch (Sitta 

 cccsia); Wren (Troglodytes parvulus); White Wagtail (Motacilla alba); Pied 

 Wagtail (Motacilla lugubris) ; Grey Wagtail (Motacilla melanope) ; Red-backed 

 Shrike (Lanius collurio); Tree-Creeper (Certhia familiaris), almost identical 



