608 On the Winter Avifauna of the Camargiie. [Ibis, 



Lams ridibundus (L.)- 



The Black-headed Gull was very common, outnumbering 

 all the other species put together. Not seen oft'-shore. 



Larus canus canus Tj. 



Not uncommon. 



Larus argentatus subsp. 



Only two Herring-Gulls were seen, much to my surprise. 

 The.^e were on the Etang de Valcar^s, and were not near 

 enough to permit me to saj' whether they were the northern 

 bird or cachinnans, though I am familiar with both. 



Larus fuscus fuscus L. 



A few scattered birds seen daily. 



Porzana porzana (Tj.), 



Two Spotted Crakes were flushed in a little marsh north 

 of Les Saintes Maries, and one was shot by a local nimrod 

 who had joined me, a feat of which he seemed very proud. 

 Itis much more interesting alive than dead. This same bird 

 was served to me by my landlady that evening, ljeau)ing wiih 

 pride, and was by all odds the worst morsel of bird flesh my 

 jaws ever worked on. 1 greatly prefer Parrols and Wood- 

 peckers ! 



Fulica atra atra L. 



A large flock of over one thousand birds on the h]tang de 

 Valcar^s. The Gulls seemed to oet yreat amusement in 

 chivying them, and would repeatedly swoop down on the 

 rear of the flock, whereupon all would patter wildly over the 

 water for several hundred yards, the rearmost birds tumbling- 

 over those in front, so dense was their formation. 



Caccabis rufa rufa (L). 



This Partridge was common in the northern part of the 

 Oamargue, and several coveys were seen from the train, to 

 which they appeared entirely indifferent. A small flock was 

 seen near the Etang de Valcares. 



