520 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke on the 



I have been surprised to find so mueh to tell after all 

 that has already been written on these islands, and as I 

 shall probably be here for another year, it is possible that I 

 may have something more to say on the islands of Lan- 

 zarote and Hierro, to which I am shortly going. 



XLVT. — On the Ornithology of the Valleys of Andorra and 

 the Upper Arik/e, and other Contributions to the Avifauna 

 of the Eastern Pyrenees. By W. Eagle Clarke, F.L.S., 

 &c. 



The birds of the Republic of Andorra and of the Depart- 

 ment of Ariege not having come within the scope of the 

 investigations of Mr, Howard Saunders (Ibis, 1884, pp. 365- 

 39,2) and Mr. James Backhouse, Jr. (Zoologist, 1884, and 

 Ibis, 1887, pp. 66-74), — the only members of the B. O. U. 

 who appear to have devoted special attention to the Pyrenees 

 — it is, perhaps, unnecessary to tender any apology for offer- 

 ing to the brotherhood of ' The Ibis ' this slight contri- 

 bution to the Pyrenean Avifauna. Indeed, so far as the 

 remote and little-visited Valley of Andorra is concerned, 

 it is believed that its birds are here treated of for the first 

 time. 



The ornithological reconnaissance here recorded was planned 

 by Mr. Backhouse and the writer; but when all was satis- 

 factorily arranged, my experienced friend was most unfor- 

 tunately, and much to our mutual regret and disappointment, 

 compelled to desert me. I, however, obtained a congenial 

 companion in my friend Mr. Basil Carter, of Masham, York- 

 shire, a young and promising ornithologist, whose valuable 

 cooperation it aftbrds me much pleasure to acknowledge. 



We arrived at Ax, our headquarters in the Upper Ariege, 

 on the morning of the 12th of May of the present year. Ax 

 is an extremely pleasant little town in the very heart of the 

 French Pyrenees, and situated at the head of the main valley 

 of the River Ariege, which here trifurcates, the valley of 

 the Upper Ariege extending due south, that of the River 



