Bird Notes and News 



Though the Bois is undoubtedly most 

 interesting to an ornithologist in spring 

 and summer, winter has also its peculiar 

 species. It is only then that wild-fowl, 

 the Kingfisher, and the regular migrants 

 such as Redwing and Hooded-Crow put 

 in an appearance. In exceptional years, 

 Crossbills, Waxwings, and even Nut- 

 crackers are recorded. Another interest- 

 ing winter feature are the flocks of Ring- 

 doves, which stop at Paris about Christmas 

 on their southward migration. Mixed 

 with these flocks, which number anything 

 above 200 individuals, are a few Stock- 

 Doves. None of these stay to breed, 

 nor do they seem to return by the same 

 route in spring, or at least they are 

 never seen then. At all seasons, how- 

 ever, there are some resident Wood- 

 Pigeons, which nest regularly. It is also 

 only in winter that the Gulls come up 

 the river to Paris, a habit they have only 

 recently acquired. The presence of a 

 Gannet, which I noted on the 18th of 

 April this year, must be regarded as purely 

 accidental, although the species has some- 

 times been recorded in winter. The 

 specimen may have come from the Jardin 

 d'Acclimatation, as I am told that sick 

 birds are sometimes freed in the hope 

 that they may recover in the open. For 

 this reason occasional tropical and foreign 

 birds should not be regarded as birds of 

 Paris. 



It wiU then be seen that, though Paris 



is at first sight an unpromising locality 

 for birds, closer observation will reveal 

 a number of Nature's feathered people, 

 whose charms are not one of its least 

 attractions. 



[A re-arrangement of the names appended 

 by Mr. Worthington, gives the following 

 Hst of species recorded by him : — 



Nesting Species. — Mistle-Thrush, Song- 

 Thrush, Redstart, Black Redstart, Black- 

 bird, Robin, Nightingale, Hedge-Sparrow, 

 Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden- 

 Warbler, Reed, Sedge and Willow Warblers, 

 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Blue, Cole, 

 Great, Long-tailed, and Marsh Tits, Nut- 

 hatch, Tree-creeper, Wren, Golden Oriole, 

 StarHng, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion- 

 Crow, Rook, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted 

 Ftycatcher, Martin, Swallow, Bullfinch, 

 Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Hawfinch, Serin, 

 Siskin, Tree-Sparrow, House-Sparrow, Pied 

 and Yellow Wagtails, Swift. Hoopoe, Barn 

 and Tawny Owls, Ring-Dove, Turtle-Dove. 



Winter Migrants. — BrambHng, Hoodie 

 Crow, Fieldfare, Redwing, Moor-hen, Stock- 

 Dove, Blackheaded and Herring Gulls. 



Visitors. — Ring-Ouzel, Firecrest, Great 

 Grey Shrike, Redbacked Shrike, Sand- 

 Martin, Goldfinch, Green Woodpecker 

 (nest recorded), Greater and Lesser 

 Spotted Woodpeckers, Kingfisher, Scops- 

 Owl (nest recorded), Kestrel, Sparrow- 

 Hawk, Heron, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, 

 Coot, Dabchick, Gannet, Snipe, Wood- 

 cock.] 



The Royal Society for the Protection of 

 Birds is again offering Silver and Bronze 

 Medals, and certificates and book prizes, for 

 Essays on Birds sent in from the Public 

 Schools in Great Britain. The alternative 

 Subjects for 1912 are (a) Birds observed in 



a defined area, with a sketch-map and special 

 note of characteristic birds ; (b) Summer 

 migrants observed in 1912, with special 

 reference to dates of arrival and to song. 

 Particulars can be obtained from the R.S.P.B., 

 23, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W. 



