from the Western Pyrenees. 453 



feature was the great abundance of the Ring-Ousel {Tardus 

 torquatus) , which was passing on migration during nearly the 

 whole of the month. It breeds in the vicinity, as Mr. Wallis 

 saw young on the wing above Gavarnie by June 16th. Large 

 numbers are shot for the table while on passage, and appear 

 in the menu under the name of " Pie de Mars/' the chief 

 hunting-ground at Argeles being the hill directly opposite 

 the town. The Blackbird (T. merula) was not uncommon 

 in gardens and shrubberies, but the Song-Thrush (T. musicus) 

 was only once observed, and the Mistletoe-Thrush (T. visci- 

 vorus) was conspicuous by its absence. Two birds, which I 

 took to be Fieldfares (T. pilaris) were observed flitting along a 

 fir-wood near the top of a snow-capped hill, but the Rock- 

 Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) was never seen, though a 

 careful look-out was kept. Probably it had not reached the 

 hill-sides as early as usual. Redstarts (Ruticil/a phcenicurus) 

 were passing through Argeles from April 7th to April 10th, 

 after which date none were observed, though individuals nest 

 in the neighbourhood ; while the Black Redstart (R. titys), 

 which Mr. Saunders reports as leaving St. Jean de Luz by 

 April, had not yet arrived at its upland haunts. Nor were 

 Chats of any species to be seen either in the valleys or on the 

 hill-sides above them. The Redbreast (Erithacus rubecula) 

 was resident, yet rather scarce; the Nightingale (Daulias 

 luscinia) was never heard, though it is found at an altitude of 

 5000 feet on the Spanish side of the range ; but the Blackcap 

 (Sylvia atricapilla) and the Sardinian Warbler (S. melano- 

 cephala) were extremely abundant and were evidently 

 preparing to breed, the cocks, when not already paired, 

 keeping up continual contests for the hens. Reguli were 

 fairly common, but it was very difficult to be certain of the 

 species without the aid of a gun ; I succeeded, however, in 

 finding a nest of the Fire-crest (Regidus ignicapillus) , which 

 contained four eggs at the end of the month. It was rather 

 smaller and more compact than that of the Gold-crest, and 

 was placed under the end of a small spruce-fir branch. The 

 Willow- Wren (Phylloscopus trochilus) and the ChiffchafT 

 (P. rufus), which were heard on several occasions, seemed to 



