1919-] Birds in the North of France. 77 



Columba oenas. Stock-Dove. 



Only seen at Brie uu the river Somme on 26 April. 



Columba palTiml)us. Wood-Pigeon. 



Common throughout, though never in large numbers; 

 often about the firing-line in front of Havrincourt Wood. 



Streptopelia turtur. Turtle-Dove. 



Common in Somme in many places. On 18 May in an 

 orchard at Roisel I found a pair at an early nest in a felled 

 apple-tree; the trunk of the tree had not been completely 

 cut through and the branches were in leaf. Last heard in 

 Logeast Wood^ near Achiet le Grand, on 9 September. 



Phasianus colchicus. Plieasant. 



Very uncommon : I saw it only near AI)beville. I was 

 told of several round P'estubert and other [)laces near 

 BethuuCj but did not see them myself. 



Perdix perdix. Partridge. 



Fairly common throughout Somme and also in the 

 La Bassee sector, where it was often seen about the line 

 and gave good practice for successful rifle and Lewis-gnu 

 fire into No Man's Land. Very common round Hebuterne 

 in August 1918 j on 6 August I saw at least forty in a 

 pack. 



Coturnix coturnix. Quail. 



Common in Somme from May to August ; especially 

 numerous in the long grass round the firing-line at Beau- 

 camp, Trescault, and in the felled part of Havrincourt 

 Wood, and in the area behind the line. Numbers at 

 Hebuterne early in August 1918 ; this area was part of the 

 old devastated area of the first Somme oft'ensive, and the 

 trenches were re-occupied again by us ; the hundreds of 

 acres of rough weed-covered ground must have proved a 

 suitable sanctuary for quail and partridges in particular. 

 The quail could be heard calling during "stand to '^ just 

 before dawn. 



