478 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke — Ornithology 



*ACCIPITER NISUS. 



The Sparrow-Hawk did not corae under our notice in the 

 spring of 1891, but it was not uncommon as a bird of passage 

 in September 1890, and chiefly in the vicinity of the trees 

 that fringe the llhones and the canals. There was a marked 

 passage of birds of prey of several species towards the close 

 of the month of September. 



Falco subbuteo. 



The Hobby was common on passage, and was observed 

 in all districts of the Delta down to the shore of the 

 Mediterranean. 



Falco tinnunculus. 



The Kestrel was also abundant as a migrating species, and 

 several were frequently seen on the wing simultaneously. 



Pandion haliaetus. 



The Osprey was observed in numbers, especially on the 

 etangs and in their ntighbourhood. On September 19th, at 

 the Etang de Giraud, four were seen together on the wing. 

 On the 23rd of the same month one formed a conspicuous 

 object, as it rested on the mud close to the water's edge on 

 tlie fitang Consecaniere. This bird subsequently took wing, 

 and, after sailing over the etang for a few moments, pounced 

 down upon and captured a large cyprinoid fish in water that 

 was not more than a foot deep. 



Akdea cinerea. 



The Heron is both a winter visitor and a hird of passage 

 in the Eonches-du-Rhone, and was abundant during the 

 period covered by our visit. Only a single example was seen 

 by us in May 1894. 



Jaubert and Barthelemy-Lapommeraye say (p. 358) that 

 the Heron was at one time resident in the Midi, but that 

 since the clearing of a part of the Camargue it has been little 

 more than a bird of passage. 



Ardea purpurea. 



The Purple Heron was not nearly so common in the 

 autumn as it was in the spring. At the latter season it was 

 abundant, and was probably nesting. 



