of the Bella of the Rhone. 207 



Mediterranean ; and also on the beds of the dried-up etangs 

 of the Petite Camargue, where it Avas breeding. 



Recurvirostra avocetta, Linn. 



The Avocet was not an abundant species in the Camargue 

 in the spring of 1894-. This may have been due to the ex- 

 treme dryness of tlie season, which rendered secure, and, 

 indeed, suitable breeding-haunts few in number. On the 

 Etang de Cousecaniere, which was little affected by the 

 drought, about seven pairs were breeding on a small island, 

 depositing their eggs in cakes of curled sun-dried mud near 

 the water's edge. One nest was a depression worked in a 

 mat-like patch of glasswort {Salicornia radicans) growing 

 on the muddy shore. A single bird was observed feeding on 

 an etang in the Rhone marsh below St. Louis on the 30th 

 of INIay. This bird must be a late breeder in the Camargue, 

 for the first eggs were found on the 28th of May. 



HiMANTOPUs CANDiDUS, Bomiat. 



This was another species whose numbers were, perhaps, 

 considerably affected by the extreme drought of the season. 

 On the 28th of May we had the pleasure of watching five of 

 these singular birds as they sought their food in the shallow 

 waters of an etang in the south-west of the Camargue. On 

 being disturbed they flew noisily over our heads and around 

 us. They showed no signs of breeding. A pair were seen 

 on a small pool in the Marais de la Grande Mar on the 31st 

 of May. 



Tringa alpina, Linn. 



Many Dunlins were observed feeding on the north shore of 

 the Etang du Valcares on the 22nd of May. Most of thera 

 were in full summer plumage. 



Tringa minuta, Leisl. 



Five Little Stints were observed on the north shore of the 

 ^tang du Valcares on the 22nd of May. 



Tringa subarquata (Giikl.). 



Several Curlew Sandpipers were seen feeding on the south 

 shore of the Etang du Valcares on the 20th of May. 



q2 



