178 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke — Ornithology 



Marshy ground with tussocks of sedge^ for which the 

 Rallidae and certain Warblers have so strong a predilection, 

 was likewise absent. In both cases the brackish nature of 

 the water may account for the absence of these particular 

 haunts ; and^ as bearing upon tliis_, it may perhaps be 

 useful to remark that neither Batrachians nor freshwater 

 species of Mollusca were observed in any of the etangs of the 

 Delta. The almost entire absence of the birds of typical 

 aquatic families named, as well as the marsh-breeding species 

 among the Gulls and Terns, proved a surprising and remark- 

 able feature, and an experience for which we were scarcely 

 prepared. 



There may be conveniently included in the marsh region 

 certain shallow etangs in the south-west in which the water, 

 through brackish, was sufficiently congenial for the presence 

 of fishes of the family Cyprinidae and a few aquatic insects. 

 On their margins and islands is some cover, consisting 

 chiefly of tamarisk trees and shrubs characteristic of the 

 salinity of the ground ; and in the water there are patches ol' 

 thin sedge of stunted growth. These etangs did not appear 

 to have been affected with the drought, and were the chief 

 resorts of the Duck frequenting the Camargue; while the 

 islands were the main breeding-retreats of these birds. Here 

 we found several pairs of Red-crested Pochards nesting — 

 au interesting discovery — and many of the Mallard. And 

 here, too, more than one pair of Pintails were most probably 

 breeding, far to the south of all previous records. These 

 etangs were also frequented by Avocets, Stilts, Redshanks, 

 &c. ; and by migratory Ospreys, and waders of many species 

 to which allusion will presently be made. Grebes of any 

 species were conspicuous by their absence — a circumstance 

 which is readily accounted for by the shallowness of the 

 waters, which in etangs covering several square miles were 

 found nowhere to exceed a foot and a half in depth. The 

 marshes of the north are intersected by dykes, on some of 

 w^hose banks, and also those of the Rhones, bushes and 

 shrubs are to be found, and these harbour Hypoluis poly- 

 glotta, Cettia cettii, and other Warblers. Foxes and Marsh- 



