BIRDS. 311 



The swift, the swallow, and the martin are abundant, and appear on 

 this coast a few days earlier than in England ; the sand martin, however, 

 remains the whole Winter, but is not common. 



The Alpine swift is to be seen for a day or two early in the Summer 

 on its way to Switzerland. I consider its flight exceeds in velocity that 

 of any other bird. 



The cuckoo is common enough in April and May, but prefers the 

 mountains. The cuckoo's mate, or wryneck, is heard in the Spring, by its 

 repeated sharp note, oftener than it is seen. 



The red-legged partridge is common on the mountains. I have seen 

 one specimen of the flamingo, said to have been shot in the valley of the 

 Roya. 



Space does not permit of giving more than the names of other birds 

 frequenting La Mortola, such as the goldfinch, yellow wagtail, wren, 

 golden crested wren, redstart, tits, stonechat, siskin, and lark, nor can I 

 describe the many kinds of gulls and divers that frequent the rocks on 

 the sea shore of this cape. T. H. 



