1919-] Birds in the North of France. 71 



Accipiter nisns. Spar row- Hawk. 



Not infrequently seen about the devasted area of the 

 Somme battle; in various parts of Sorame and round 

 Bethune. 



Falco peregrinus. Peregrine Falcon. 



In October and November at Etaples and about the 

 Canche estuary; on 9 November one flew from the big 

 sandbank at the river's mouth carrying a black-headed gull 

 in its talons — I picked up the gull's corpse later. 



Falco tinnunculus. Kestrel. 



Common everywhere : often seen over the firing-line 

 near Havrincourt and Givenchy ; particularly numerous in 

 Adinfer Wood on 23 March, 1918. 



Sula bassana. Gaunet. 



In December just off Boulogne. 



Tadorna tadorna. Common Sheld-Duck, 



A small number — from one to seven — in the Canche 

 estuary in October and November. Two in the Canche 

 estuary on 31 July, 1918. 



Anas boschas. Mallard. 



A few on the river Somme in spring and summer near 

 Amiens^ and at Eclusier and Brie. They were seen commonly 

 by others in the wet country between Bethune and the line 

 in winter. 



Mareca penelope. AVigeon. 



Four in the Canche estuary for several days in early 

 November. 



Spatula clypeata. Shoveler. 



On 23 April five birds at St. Christ, and others at Brie on 

 the river Somme. 



Nyroca farina. Pochard. 



On 25 March, 1917, 200 birds at Cappy, and others at 

 Eclusier on the river Somme. 



