274 M. Necker on the Birds of Geneva. 



where it excavates its nest, or takes possession of a hole al- 

 ready formed. This is the only species of swallow, accord- 

 ing to Mr Charles Bonaparte, an accomplished ornithologist, 

 which is common to Europe and to North America. The 

 identity of the European and American specimens he ascer- 

 tained by careful comparison. * 



Water Birds form the subject of the Fourth Section. The 

 lake of Geneva, towards the close of winter, is inhabited by a 

 crowd of ducks of various species, which have passed the 

 cold season on the lake. On the approach of spring, nume- 

 rous tribes of palmipedes hasten to regain the seas and marsh- 

 es of the north, which they had been obliged to quit in au- 

 tumn ; and, at the same period, birds of a similar kind, and 

 others of different species, are observed, which had passed the 

 winter in lakes or marshes more southerly, or on the shores of 

 the Mediterranean. 



About the 10th of March, the Anas acuta, fuligula and 

 ferina prepare to depart. Towards the 25th, the Anas clangu- 

 la, and A. boschas have almost entirely disappeared. Then two 

 species of teal, (A. querqtiedula and crecca,) the coot, (Fulica 

 atra,) and the Gallinula chhropus make their appearance, 

 the two last of which shelter themselves among the reeds. 

 About the end of April, or beginning of May, the lake is 

 covered by multitudes of little palmipedes, which, always on 

 the wing, dart upon the smaller fishes, or aquatic insects. These 

 are the Sterna himndo and nigi-a. These little birds, far 

 from being alarmed by the noise of a gun, fly in crowds 

 round the body of their murdered companion, as if they 

 wished to carry it away. Gulls are also abundant on the lake ; 

 and it was at one time believed that they formed a number 

 of different species. But since observers have discriminated 

 the variations of plumage caused by age, sex, and the 

 climate, the number of species which frequent the lake of Ge- 

 neva regularly has been reduced to two — the Larus canus, 

 and ridibundus, the last of which is seen for the greater part 

 of the year. 



It is chiefly, however, on the approach of winter, thatthelake 



* Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Vol- IV. 

 p. 258. 



