186 Mr. W. Eagle Ciarke — Ornithology 



down stones from heaven to assist his son. Later authorities 

 opine that it owes its existence to the Rhone and the Durance, 

 by whose waters its innumerable stones were deposited. The 

 stones covering this vast area are certainly rounded by the action 

 of water, and they vary in size from the dimensions of a man^s 

 head to that of his fist. They are loose, not imbedded, and 

 form a stratum of great thickness. Between the stones there 

 struggle for existence a few thin blades of parched-looking 

 grass. The Crau is a dreary place in the extreme, and most 

 toilsome to traverse. On the 18th of May we covered many 

 miles of its rugged surface, which for roughness can only be 

 compared to the dry bed of a mountain torrent. In the west 

 of the wilderness there is some cultivation. This has been 

 brought about by resort to rather remarkable methods — 

 namely, the bringing of all manner of rubbish from Mar- 

 seilles, which, after having been weeded of old boots and 

 various tins, &c., is ground up in a mill and then spread over 

 the surface of the stones. By this means, and an elaborate 

 system of irrigation based upon the waters of the Durance, a 

 marked change has been wrought, for good grass and vines 

 now flourish, in strong contrast with their immediate sterile 

 surroundings. The birds haunting this dismal plain are 

 neither numerous in species nor in individuals. We were 

 glad to make the acquaintance here of the Pin-tailed Sand- 

 Grouse {Pterochs alchata), but failed to find the Rock- 

 Partridge [Caccabis saxatilis), which we were informed is 

 not very uncommon. The other birds observed were a few 

 Short -toed Larks, several Egyptian Vultures, two Harriers, 

 and several Stone-Curlews. Near the centre of the Crau is 

 an oasis and a village, Entressen ; also an etang, with deep 

 water and, in places, fringing reeds, where we saw several 

 pairs of Great Crested Grebes, the only birds of this family 

 that came under our notice in the Bouches-du-Rhone. 



TuRDUS viscivoRus, Liuu. 



Haunts suited for the Mistle-Thrush are few in the 

 Camargue, and confined to the northern districts, where, 

 however, the bird appeared to be far from common. Around 

 Aries it was noticed as fairly abundant. 



