1919-] Birds in the North of France. 69 



Amieus. Last seen at Acliiet le Grand on 1 September. 

 Several in Halloy, near Doullens, in early August 1918. 



Muscicapa atricapilla. Pied Flycatcher. 

 In autumn at Achiet le Grand : one on 31 August and 

 three or four on 10 September. 



Hirundo rustica. Swallow. 



First seen at Peronne in scores on 16 April ; on the 21st 



1 saw them going in and out of ruins at Barleux and 

 Flaucourt. The line of the river Somme seemed to be the 

 route by which many came in spring, and at Brie on 

 22 April many passed up stream (which here runs north 

 and south) all day against a north wind, and many liun- 

 dreds roosted there in fluctuating numbers during the next 

 three days. 



A most abundant breeding bird in ruins, wooden huts, 

 etc., and astonishingly tame ; a pair in a room used as an 

 officers' mess at Bertincourt nested and hatched out on a 

 nail in a beam in the low roof aiid paid no heed to all the 

 noise, tobacco smoke and candle-light at night. During 

 September they passed Achiet le Grand going west. Last 

 seen in the Canche estuary on 16 October. 



Delichon urbica. Martin. 



First seen at Peronne on 17 April. In fair numbers 

 nesting in the ruined villages in the east of Somme, but not 

 nearly so numerous as the swallows. Numbers passed west 

 with swallows at Achiet le Grand in September. 



Riparia riparia. Sand-Martin. 



I saw strangely few : a colony at Bourdon, near Amieus, 

 in July ; otherwise only seen on 16 & 17 April at Peronne 

 in fair numbers with swallows, and one with them on 



2 September at Achiet le Grand going west. On 31 July, 

 1918, two flew west down the Canche at Etaples. 



Picus viridis. Green Woodpecker. 



ISlot uncommon in most woods except in the east of 

 Somme ; round Bethune in several places, including the 



