1130 Birds. 



ary, March and April. There are generally two or three days in each 

 spring on which these birds travel in great numbers, while at other 

 times we see very few of them. In the year 1837, these travelling days 

 were the 16th and 31st of March, and the 2nd of April. The return 

 begins at the end of September, and is continued in full force until 

 the 20th of October : it is prolonged until November when there has 

 not been much rain. Very few winter here. 



Little Crake, Gallinula pusilla. Seen in large numbers in March, 

 April, and the first days of May ; not seen again in autumn. 



Moor-hen, Gallinula chloropus. The arrival of this bird takes 

 place between the end of February and the 25th of April, when the 

 weather is mild and damp. The return is continued from the 1st of 

 October until about the 8th of November. 



Common Coot, Fulica atra. The coots arrive at the end of March, 

 in April, and even in May. They are then seen singly or in pairs 

 about the ditches, among the rushes. They return during the cold 

 w T eather in November and December : they are then seen in large 

 flocks, and cover the ponds. On the 23rd of December they are the 

 object of a regular and very celebrated sport on the pond of Mar- 

 tigues. I may here remark that several divers, the scientific names 

 of which I cannot give with precision, appear annually on our shores. 



Grey-legged Goose, Anas Anser. Passes in March and April, and 

 repasses from the first cold of autumn until the beginning of winter : 

 it only rests here when the weather is very cold. 



Bean Goose, Anas segetum. Passes at the same periods as the pre- 

 ceding species, but is more rare. 



White-fronted Goose, Anas albifrons. Passes with the two preced- 

 ing, but is more rare than either. 



Wild Duck, Anas Boschas. Arrives at the end of February and in 

 March, returns in November, after the rains and the first cold ; comes 

 in great quantity towards the 15th of December, and many winter here. 



Gadwall, Anas strepera. Migrates with the preceding, but is very 

 rare. 



Wigeon, Anas Penelope. Migrates with the wild duck ; the species 

 is abundant. 



Shoveller, Anas clypeata. Migrates with the wild duck, but is 

 more rare. 



Garganey, Anas Querquedula. Migrates with the wild duck : ma- 

 ny winter in our marshes. 



Teal, Anas Crecca. Migrates with the wild duck, winters with us. 



