observed in Switzerland. 1 85 



one was an old male in superb plumage, and there was a 

 younger male with less white, while the rest were females or 

 birds of the last season. Other flocks were scattered along 

 the lake. 



The Red-breasted Merganser [M. serrator) and the Smew 

 {M. albellus) are well-known visitors to the lakes ; I saw four 

 of the latter in February 1891. 



Cygnus olor (J. F. Gmelin). 



The Mute Swan is found on the lakes in a semi- wild state, 

 and may often be observed taking long flights in line, even 

 at some distance from broad water ; for instance, I have seen 

 birds flying across the valley of the Aar at Berne. A pair 

 which had a nest close to the pier at Ouchy formed a 

 great attraction to visitors : the female was sitting on four eggs 

 on March 22nd; by the 26th or 27th she had eight ; by April 

 27th some of the young were hatched, and by May 2nd six 

 birds were on the water, two eggs being unproductive. That 

 is less than the period which I have given in my ' Manual'; 

 probably it varies somewhat according to climate in this as 

 with other species. 



CoLUMBA PALUMBus, Linn. 



Flights of Ring-Doves were observed coming from the 

 direction of the Rhone valley on April 5 th, after which the 

 species became common in the wooded districts, including 

 the Jura, till October. 



CoLUMBA (ENAS, Linil. 



The first Stock-Doves were identified near Lausanne (a 

 flock of eight) on February 27th ; I afterwards saw many 

 pairs in the wood of Sauvabelin, above Lausanne, where they 

 breed in the hollows of the old trees ; also in the Orisons. 



.The Turtle- Dove {Turtur communis) occurs, but appears 

 to be rather uncommon in the lake districts, as well as in 

 the Jura. 



Tetrao urogallus, Linn. 



The Capercaillie is still tolerably abundant in the main 

 Jura, and also on Chaumont, as well as in the Alps. After 

 the love-season the males frequent high spruce-clad localities. 



