1124 Birds. 



we see it as late as November and December, in very exposed places. 

 I have been told that some of them pass the winter in the rocks of the 

 mountain of Faro, near Toulon. 



Sand Martin, Hirundo riparia. The same observations apply to 

 this species as to the house martin. 



Alpine Swift, Cypselus alpinus. Does not arrive here on its pas- 

 sage northward till the 15th of April, remaining till the end of May ; 

 it reappears on its southern passage in August, and again leaves us in 

 September. 



Common Swift, Cypselus Apus. Arrives towards the 1st of May, 

 and soon disappears, going northwards ; it revisits us on its southern 

 passage at the same time as the preceding species. 



Ring Dove, Columba Palutnbus. Arrival scarcely observable in Fe- 

 bruary and March ; it is not then seen near the shores, and the belief 

 is that it returns to Italy. It migrates again in October and early in 

 November, in small flocks, coasting the shores of the Mediterranean, 

 and directing its course westward. Many of them winter in our oak 

 forests. 



Stock Dove, Columba (Enas. 



Rock Dove, Columba Livia. 



The same observations apply to both these species as to the ring- 

 dove. 



Turtle Dove, Columba Turtur. Arrives at the end of April and in 

 May, having crossed the sea in a straight line. The woods upon the 

 shore are filled with them ; and on the 10th of May of this year, be- 

 ing out botanizing, I saw more than ten couples on the same day ; no- 

 thing was heard but their plaintive notes. They depart in September. 

 They follow the shore in a westward direction, like the pigeon. 



Ptarmigan, Lagopus vulgaris. This species, as well as its conge- 

 ners (T. Bonasia, T. Urogallus and T. Tetrix), is unknown in lower 

 Provence, but is seen in winter in the environs of Castellane, where I 

 have eaten them during my stay there. 



Common Quail, Coturnix vulgaris. La Caille. This bird arrives 

 at Grasse, on its spring passage, from the 25th of April to the 20th of 

 May, but stays with us a very short time. The period of the autum- 

 nal passage is anxiously awaited by experienced sportsmen. A few 

 birds breed with us, and these, together with their young, are seen on 

 the moors before the main migration, which begins on the 10th and 

 continues to the 20th of August. On some occasions, when the 

 temperature has continued warm, and the weather perfectly dry, the 

 migration has been delayed for an entire month : the main body then 



