MR. J. H. GURNEY ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF SWITZERLAND. 255 
IV. 
ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF SWITZERLAND. 
By J. H. Gurney, F.L.S., V.-P. 
Read 24th November, 189G. 
Of all the charming spots in rugged. Switzerland, none are better 
known to our countrymen than the crescent Lake of Geneva, 
Locus lemanus. The writings which specially refer to the orni- 
thology of this great inland water are Necker's out of date, — but 
still standard, — ‘ Memoire sur les Oiseaux,’ 1864, and Forel's ‘Lac 
Leman, precis scientifiquo.’ The latter has a mere List of Birds, 
but the following paragraph on the so-called Polish Swan, Gy gnus 
immutabilis , an albinistic variety which has been supposed to be 
only produced in England, is very interesting. “ In 1868 au 
interesting variety of Gy gnus olor began to appear on our lake, 
and every year some could be seen ; the young ones in this variety 
have their first down yellowish white, and their first feathers pure 
white.” On this it may be remarked, that those bred in Norfolk 
by my father, had their first feathers a dull cinnamon colour, 
but I believe this very quickly disappeared. I did not learn if 
there were still any on the lake, nor has Mr. Howard Saunders 
any information to give on this point (‘litis,’ 1891, p. 185) in his 
valuable list, to be further referred to. 
The limited area of low ground to the north of the Lake of 
Geneva, — and probably all the plains, — is essentially a place of 
rendezvous for birds on passage, where migration can be studied ; but 
owing to the vicinity of the mountains it would be a little difficult 
to determine what winds favour the birds most. However, every 
bird is a “ voyageur ” down to the Black Kite, the Starling, and 
the very common Goldfinch. In spring, these are three of the 
