19^7-] Birds in the Ancre Valley. 531 



large numbers of females assembled in the marshes near 

 Anthuille. 



Fringilla montifringilla. Brambling. 



Daring the cold weather, on 20 January, four were seen 

 in the marsh below Authuille. 



Acanthus cannabina. Linnet. 



During October large flocks of fifty birds frequented 

 the fields near Mailly-Maillet, about one thousand yards 

 behind the trendies. This species was not subsequently 

 met with. 



Emheriza citrinella. Yellow Bunting. 



The Yellow Bunting was comparatively common near 

 Englebelmer. It was not noticed near the river except 

 during the hard weather in January, when a few came down 

 to the marshes. It was again plentiful near Behagnies. 



Emberiza cirlus. Cirl Bunting. 



One or two of these Buntings were heard and seen on 

 the outskirts of Mailly-Maillet on 30 October, and again 

 towards the end of March near Behagnies. 



Emberiza schoeniclus. Beed-Bunting. 



I have a record of this species on 22 November, when 

 one was heard in a reed -bed near the Passerelle de 

 Magenta. 



Alauda arvensis. Skylark. 



The Skylark was common around Englebelmer and 

 Martinsart during the winter. In January, when it was 

 freezing, small companies frequented the Ancre marshes 

 some two thousand yards from the line. On 26 February 

 one was singing over Beaucourt, and again on 14 March 

 one was heard near Grandcourt. It was difficult to under- 

 stand why these birds remained in this desolate region where 

 the guns had left hardly a blade of grass. On 25 March 

 the Skylarks were in full song near Bapaume despite the 

 exceptionally severe weather. 



2n2 



