of the Delta of the Rhone. 175 



cathedral, with a few wretched dwellings grouped about it^ and 

 as desolate as a necropolis," formed our headquarters. In 

 order to explore ornithologically the south-eastern districts, 

 however, several days were spent at the station of the Garde 

 Maritime in the solitudes of Beauduc. Visits were also paid 

 to the Petite Camargue, and to the marshes and wastes at 

 the mouth of the Grand Rhone, and adjoining the shores of 

 the Golfe de Fos. 



The other regions o£ the Bouches-du- Rhone which are 

 included within the scope of this contribution are the 

 remarkable stony plain known as La Crau, and the neigh- 

 bourhood of the singularly interesting old town of Aries 

 — the Rome of ancient Gaul. 



Before proceeding to give a slight sketch of the various 

 natural districts within the Delta and their characteristic 

 birds, it may be well to remark that the spring of 1894 had 

 been one of the very driest on record in the South of France. 

 Mention is made of this fact because the drought had 

 certainly exercised a marked effect on the lagoon district, 

 causing many sheets of water to disappear, and it may have 

 had some influence on the bird-life of the region generally. 

 We do not, however, consider that any material change in 

 the complexion of the ornis of the Camargue, or in the 

 number of the birds frequenting it, had been wrought ; and 

 this opinion is based upon the fact that the only district which 

 appeared to be affected by the drought Avas the lagoon area, 

 whose avifauna is always, and necessarily, extremely limited 

 and peculiar. 



The cultivated districts of the Delta, as already remarked, 

 are mainly confined to the north and to the vicinity of the 

 banks of the Rhone, where the laud is fi'ee from salt. Here 

 vines, rye, and oats flourish; and, on land newly reclaimed, 

 rice is grown as a first crop to purify it. The birds of this 

 section of the Camargue do not require to be particularized, 

 for they are simply the ordinary species which affect similar 

 haunts in South-western Europe. The presence here, and in 

 some numbers too, of the Grey Partridge [Perdix cinerea) is 

 worthy of mention, for this bird is not, we believe, usually 



o 2 



