Birds. 1127 



a chance of error, that they would soon be drowned. If a wave bore 

 this bird on its crest, at the moment when it lowered its flight, it might 

 perhaps soon rise in the air again, if its wings were only struck by the 

 air, but this would be a rare exception ; if its wings had touched the 

 water, which is most probable, it is certain they would be rendered 

 powerless : to which we must add that the bird is wet, that it is una- 

 ble to make that first spring which it takes when rising from the earth, 

 and we are forced to conclude that this bird ought not to seek on the 

 water for a repose which is too certain to be fatal. 



Great Plover, (Edicnemus crepitans. Arrives in March and April, 

 the return commences in October, and is prolonged until the 20th of 

 December. A great number winter in our country. They pass the 

 day under the hillocks which are covered with Cistus albidus, C. sal- 

 vifolius and C. Ledon, and towards sunset they reassemble in flocks, 

 to go and feed on the plains. 



Himantopus rufipes. Has a regular double passage, but as it never 

 stops, it is very rarely killed, and the exact periods are unknown to me. 



Oyster-catcher, Hacmatopus ostralegus. Is seen every spring upon 

 our shores, and particularly near Martigues. 



Golden Plover, Charadrius pluvialis. Arrives in March, returns 

 from the 1st of November until the end of December, and even later. 

 Always travels during rainy weather. 



Dotterel, Charadrius Morinellus. A very few pass through in the 

 spring and during the cold weather. 



Ringed Plover, Charadrius Hiaticula. Periods of migration as in 

 the golden plover. Some nestle near the ponds of Hyeres and Mar- 

 tigues. I have been told that during the day they do not cover their 

 eggs, which, being laid on the sand, are kept at a proper tempera- 

 ture by the sun. 



Kentish Plover, Charadrius Cantianus. The same observations 

 apply to this as to the preceding species. 



Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius minor. It has been observed on 

 both passages, but the periods have not been ascertained with precision. 



Grey Plover, Squatarola cinerea. Arrives on its spring passage at 

 the end of February and during the month of March, and on its au- 

 tumnal passage towards the middle of October : it continues with us 

 during the first part of winter, and is almost always seen in tempestu- 

 ous winds and cold and stormy days. 



Lapwing, Vanellus cristatus. Passes at the same time as the grey 

 plover. This species is more common than the preceding. 



Turnstone, Strepsilas inter pres. Le Tourne pierre, (Buff on). Vi- 

 sits us twice during the year. 



