3S6 *Mr. J. H. Gurney on the 



Nightjar. Caprimulgiis europceus. '^ Tete-cticv re '' or 

 "Crapaud volant/' 



Not common (Pellicot) ; one seen by Lord Amherst on 

 May 2ud. C. ruficoUis has occurred (Jaubert and Alfred 

 Cavaleadt) . 



Wryneck. lynx torquilla. " Torcol." 



The noisy que-que-que was first heard under our windows 

 on March 24th, and a few specimens occurred afterwards^ 

 but they soon passed on^ and are seldom met with in summer 

 (Jaubert) . 



Grekn Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis. 



Often heard and seen on the wooded hills until about the 

 1st of May, Avhen its cry quite ceases, only to be brought 

 on again in the same month by a heavy rain. I do not 

 know whether the inhabitants associate the cry of the '^ Pic 

 verf with a downpour, but it is stated by local authors to be 

 very susceptible to frost, which, as in England, seals up its 

 means of existence. The authors of ' Les Richesses Ornitho- 

 logiques ' speak of a form having the upper parts yellowish, and 

 in England I have met with a similar variety"^. Picus major was 

 not seen alive. P. martins has been found at Lachen (Jaub ert). 



Kingfisher. Alcedo ispida. 



On the Argente, and no doubt on other streams and 

 rivers, every one knows the " Martia-pecheur,'' but I have 

 not found any book which explains why it should be dedicated 

 to St. Martin more than to any other saint, or why Circus 

 cyaneus should have the same honour. 



Bee-eater. j\[erops apiaster. '' Guepier." 

 The Bee-eater is a late spring migrant, believed to nest in 

 one locality ; four were seen by an English visitor at Bou- 

 lourie on May 11th, and two stuffed specimens are in a 

 house at Valescure. Apart from the birds' beauty, their 

 habit of calling as they fly would attract tlie attention of the 

 most unobservant, and accordingly, though scarce, they are 

 generally known. 



* This bird, which I examined in the flesh, had a beautiful bronze 

 tinge on the upperside of the wings, quite resplendent when it was held 

 sideways to the light. 



