508 Btrleigh, Bird-life in Southwestern France. [o"f 



approach of spring the flocks broke up and the birds were soon seen singly 

 or in pairs scattered through the pine woods. Here they were frequently 

 flushed from the ground, but were as often seen in the trees. The song, 

 which was frequently heard during the spring and early summer, was given 

 on the wing while fluttering overhead or from the top of a tree. 



54. Alauda arvensis arvensis, L. Skylark. — This bird occurred as a 

 migrant only. During the spring it was scarce and was seen but twice. 

 February 24 a flock of fully a hundred of these birds was found feeding in a 

 newly plowed field, and on March 17 two were flushed while crossing a 

 millet field. In flight they uttered a low, gurgling note, but otherwise 

 were silent and inconspicuous. October 19 they were seen again for the 

 first time and almost at once were plentiful, small flocks being frequently 

 encountered, flying by overhead or feeding in the cultivated fields. At this 

 time they were restless and noisy, seldom remaining on the ground long, 

 and continually uttering their low gurgling note and another short, high- 

 pitched call. On October 25 two hundred were seen in one flock. The 

 last bird was seen November 21, two being flushed from the edge of a millet 

 field. 



55. Lullula arborea arborea (L.). Woodlark. — On September 22 

 five birds were found at one pjace circling high overhead over a large field, 

 singing. Occasionally one would drop down into the top of a tree, or to 

 the ground, only to fly high into the air again, still singing. This was my 

 first record for the occurrence of this species, and 1 saw it but once again 

 when, November 18, two birds were flushed from the edge of a newly 

 plowed field. 



56. Apus apus apus (L.). Swift. — In size and general appearance 

 this bird resembled our Chimney Swift, but differed in having a forked tail, 

 the end of which was smooth, without barbs. It was a summer resident 

 and plentiful in and about the towns. The first bird was seen May 5 and 

 within a few days they were of common occurrence. On May 16 many 

 were feeding over the town of Ponteux toward dusk, and were noisy and 

 mating then, chasing each other about with an often repeated, high-pitched 

 squeal. On July 7 birds were noticed evidently feeding young, five being 

 seen entering crevices in the tile roof of a house. Although still numerous 

 up to the middle of July, they suddenly became scarce, and on July 21 the 

 last ones for the year were seen, several circling and feeding overhead. 



57. Caprimulgus europaeus europseus L. Nightjar. — This bird 

 closely resembled in appearance and actions our Whip-poor-will and was 

 a plentiful summer resident in the pine woods, especially at the edge 

 of slashings or fields overgrown with furze and briars, in which places they 

 nested. On June 18, while crossing a slashing, a female was flushed from 

 two well-incubated eggs lying on a litter of pine bark at the foot of a briar. 

 The eggs were creamy white, marbled with lilac and brown. On June 27 

 a bird was seen at dusk calling from a tree at the side of a road through the 

 woods, uttering a deep rolling, churr-r-r-r, with a rising and falling in- 



