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The Lady William Cecth



too, among the birds common to the South and to Great Britain.

Another sweet little bird is the ‘ Scieur’ (.Provenqal lou Sialla). As¬

he flies he makes a noise just like sawing with a fine saw.


Between Fregus and the peach orchards of the Boson Valley

the Meadow Bunting may be seen, and probably in many similar

localities ; the French call it “ Le Bruant fou ” as it is supposed to

let itself be very easily caught.


The Serin Finch (Le Serin vert de Provence•) is found in most

of the orchards and gardens in the neighbourhood. It is probably a-

resident, though more numerous in the Spring. It begins to sing

quite early in March, and is among the first to build. The nest is a-

neat and cosy little one, and is generally placed in the lower branches

of a large tree, not in bushes or shrubs.


The Citral Finch is found nearer the mountains, and in the

higher hills beyond Bagnols and Fayence ; it is probably a much

rarer bird here than the little Serin.


Several Warblers are both to be seen and heard in the

neighbourhood. ' Beccofico ” is a common name given to those who

habitually frequent the gardens and orchards along the coast and

inland as far as the mountains. Among the rarer ones may be found

the Sardinian Warbler, the Olivaceous Warbler and the Spectacled

Warbler ; the large Barred Warbler (Fauvette eperviere ) has also been

noted. The Black Caps and the Chiff Chaffs warble and twitter in

Proven 9 al Gardens as they do in “ Old England.”


Among other rare birds, the Busset Wheatear is found

occasionally in the plain of Fregus. In the meadows and in the

valleys of the Argens, the Pedegal, the Nartoby and Verdon there

are various Wagtails ; among them, the grey, the yellow and the

white Wagtails. In the tall canes and reeds of the marshy parts

of the river beds, the Moustached Sedge Warbler builds, and I

think, in Spring and Summer, the nest of the Great Beed Warbler

would probably be found.


In the oak woods between Draguignan and Moustiers, and

in the Maures Mountains, and other districts where there are

deciduous trees, there are plenty of Blackbirds and Thrushes in

April and May : Goldfinches, Linnets, Greenfinches, and many other

old familiar friends ’ from ‘ Beyond the parting sea,’ visit us here



