380 Mr. H. Saunders on the 



91. Upupa epops, Linn. 



The first Hoopoe of the year v^as observed walking along 

 the road near the Bidassoa on the 23rd of Marchj and several 

 were seen later. 



92. CucuLUs CANORUS, Linn. 



The Cuckoo was first heard at St. Jean-de-Luz on the 15th 

 of April, and later it was both seen and heard. 



93. ASTO ACCIPITRINUS (Pall.). 



I saw a freshly killed specimen of the Short-eared Owl at 

 Bagneres-de-Bigorre on the 27th of March, 1882. The 

 Long-eared Owl {Asio otus) also occurs, but I did not happen 

 to see it ; Companyo says it is excellent eating. 



94. Syrnium aluco (Linn.). 



I heard the Tawny Owl hooting loudly near Roncesvalles 

 in Navarre. 



95. Scops giu (Scop.). 



The Scops Owl was not noticed in the Western Pyrenees 

 during my spring visits ; but at the foot of the Eastern 

 Pyrenees, where the olive tree is abundant^ it appears to be 

 resident — at least it was there iu November 1876. Lacroix 

 says that it lays its eggs in old nests of the Magpie. 



96. Bubo ignavus, Forst. 



The Eagle Owl is of general distribution. I was shown 

 the place where a pair bred every year in a narrow gorge 

 just above the Hotel Poujade at Amelie-les-Bains. This 

 bird begins to nest very early, and Companyo says that he 

 has found the young nearly full-fledged in March ; he adds 

 that the flesh of this bird is white, tender, and well flavoured. 

 It is always diflicuit to induce peasants to show you the nest, 

 as it is generally on an easily accessible ledge'which they visit 

 daily for the sake of the rabbits, hares, and partridges brought 

 there by the old birds. I once lunched oft' a rabbit which I 

 took from the Eagle-Owl's table. 



97. Athene noctua (Retz.). 



The Little Owl is tolerably common and resident ; I heard 

 its note several times near St. Jean-de-Luz iu March. 



