498 Burleigh, Bird-life in Southwestern France. [ ct 



1. Turdus viscivorus viscivorus L. Mistle Thrush. — In a large 

 alder swamp close to the town three of these birds could be heard singing 

 during the early morning and late afternoon throughout the spring and 

 early summer. High in one of the larger trees they would pour out their 

 varied whistles, trills, squawks, etc., for hours at a time. Always timid, they 

 would become silent at the slightest alarm, only to begin again in a short 

 time from another tree some distance away. The last bird was heard 

 singing' on July 16, and once quiet they were not seen again. This one 

 swamp was the only place where any of this species were found. 



2. Turdus philomelos philomelos Brehm. Song Thrush.— This 

 species was a migrant only, flocks of varying size appearing in the spring 

 and fall. They frequented thickets and underbrush about water, and were 

 usually timid, disappearing with a sharp, sparrow-like chip when ap- 

 proached. The first ones were seen on March 24. By the 29th they were 

 plentiful and singing. On that day some thirty of them were found in 

 the tops of the pines at the edge of a stretch of woods, all singing. The 

 song was a rich broken warble, and uttered by many of the birds at the 

 same time was very pleasing. From the first of April on they gradually 

 disappeared, and by the end of the month none were left. They were 

 first seen again on October 3, when one bird was found feeding in a thicket 

 bordering a stream. October 24 numerous small flocks were seen. The 

 last record for the year was December 14, one bird again being seen. 



3. Turdus musicus musicus L. Redwing. — On November 21 one 

 bird was seen. It was feeding at the edge of a thicket, and on being 

 approached flew up into a sapling where its red flanks and the line over 

 its eye were easily noticeable. 



4. Turdus pilaris L. Fieldfare. — But two birds were seen, flushed 

 on November 18 from underbrush bordering a small stream. They were 

 very timid, flying into the top of a large tree and then into the woods some 

 distance away. 



5. Turdus merula merula L. Blackbird. — Plentiful and resident, 

 and found about thickets and underbrush close to water. Although wary 

 and hard to approach, they would invariably utter a sharp spluttering 

 outburst on flying, and this frequently attracted notice to them where 

 otherwise they would have been passed by unobserved. Another note they 

 had was a low cluck. By the end of March they were frequently heard 

 singing, especially toward dusk. The song was a loud, rich warble. During 

 early summer family parties were occasionally encountered instead of the 

 single birds seen before. On the 18th of November these birds were unusu- 

 ally plentiful, as many as ten being frightened from one thicket. Although 

 largely resident, some had evidently wandered in from farther north. 



6. (Enanthe oenanthe oenanthe (L.). Wheatear. — A pair of 

 these birds were first seen on April 12 at the edge of a slashing. They 

 lingered here for a week, being last recorded on the 19th. They returned 

 again early in the fall, three birds being seen on August 18. By the 25th 

 of this month they were fairly plentiful, but for a short time only, soon 



