182 THE OENITHOLOGIST. 



some very high ground, some miles out of Fauquemberg, I 

 met with a few Meadow Pipits, but the species was very 

 infrequent. Under an archway at the hotel in the latter 

 place were half-a-dozen House Martin's nests, two of which 

 contained young nearly full grown. I had already seen a 

 Swallow's nest, containing young of a similar age, on an 

 estaminet midway between Calais and St. Omer. This nest 

 was situated in the position ordinarily selected by the House 

 Martin, and was affixed to the wall like the nest of the latter — 

 without any support from below. I saw a few Sand Martins 

 at wide intervals, but found the species very local. The prin- 

 cipal roadside birds of the smaller class were Chaffinches, 

 Yellow Buntings, and occasional flocks of Sparrows. Blue 

 Tits and Great Tits were not infrequent. I noticed one of 

 the latter clinging to the trunk of a poplar, after the manner 

 of a Nuthatch. Of Warblers I saw or heard very little, 

 perhaps owing to the boisterous weather ; but in the Bois-de- 

 Boulogne I identified the Willow Wren, Garden Warbler and 

 Blackcap. I also observed an occasional Spotted Flycatcher. 

 I was both pleased and surprised to find the Green Wood- 

 pecker fairly common along the whole route. I saw also a 

 single individual of Picus major. 



Birds of prey were infrequent, but m a lonely district I 

 observed a brown hawk beating the stubbles with a steady, 

 measured flight. From the mode of the latter and the size 

 of the bird, I concluded this was a young Montagu's Harrier. 

 I once or twice noted Sparrow Hawks, also an occasional 

 Kestrel ; but I had one treat that an Englishman does not 

 often enjoy at home — a good view of a Common Buzzard. 

 I met with the latter when riding between two extensive 

 woods, some eight miles from Villeneuve St. George. The 

 latter place lies about twelve miles south-east of Paris. It 

 was a grand bird in very dark plumage, but with a few white 

 feathers about the. vent. It flapped lazily across the road, 

 only a few yards in front of and above me, so close that I 

 could distinguish the yellow colouring about the bill. In 

 these woods I heard Pheasants crowing, and close at hand 

 saw a large covey of the common Partridge. At Montreuil 

 we dined off the lied-legged species. 



