64 Mr. H. Saunders on the 



VII. — Further Notes on the Birds of the Pyrenees. 

 By Howard Saunders. 



*The Ibis' for 1884 (pp. 3n5-392) contained some account 

 of my ornitliological experiences in the western portion of 

 the Pyrenees during tlie winters and springs of 1882 and 

 1883, with which were incorporated notes made in the 

 extreme east of that range in the autumn of 1876, as 

 well as a few observations in 1879. Various Members of the 

 B. O. U. have subsequently added to our knowledge, e. g. 

 Mr. James Backhouse (Ibis, 1887, pp. 66-74), Mr. W.Eagle 

 Clarke {op. cit. 1889, pp. 520-552), and Mr. H. M. Wallis 

 {op. cit. 1895, pp. 64-85) . The last-named was principally 

 in the central districts, between Eaux-Chaudes and Luchon, 

 as well as on the Aragonese side ; while Mr. Clarke, Avith 

 his companion Mr. Basil Carter, ascended the valley of the 

 Ariege to Ax-les-Thermes, whence they made their way — 

 through Hospitalet, and in spite of new snow — into the little 

 republic ol: Andorra. Mr. Clarke's was the earliest account 

 of the birds of that district, and only those who have had 

 similar experiences can realize the diflSculties to be contended 

 with in the higher mountains in the month of May. At 

 that time the rains have not ceased at the lower elevations 

 on the French side, the old snow is melting in the moun- 

 tains, and the fresh snow that falls from time to time is soft 

 and impedes locomotion. May is, however, the best month 

 for finding birds breeding, and it seemed possible that, by 

 beginning in the south-east of France, thence passing into 

 Catalonia, and working along the base of the Pyrenees on 

 the Spanish side, drier and more settled weather might be 

 expected than was probable in the central or western regions. 

 Moreover, the country from Luchon eastward as far as the 

 western side of Mount Canigou was unknown to me, and there 

 were several points which required investigation. For instance, 

 it was desirable to learn whether there was any foundation 

 for the late Dr. L. Companyo's statement that the Black 

 Grouse is found in the Eastern Pyrenees, as well as to 

 learn something about the range of the Hazel-Grouse ; while, 



