256 MR. J. H. GURNEY ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF SWITZERLAND. 
foremost heralds; and judging from one season, the next to follow 
are the White Wagtail and the Black Redstart, males first. In 1896, 
the “Rossignol de Muraille” ( R . titys) soon became ubiquitous, 
and much commoner than the Bedstart. After them came 
a miscellaneous following of Wrynecks, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, 
Pied Flycatchers, &c., and soon the Greyheaded Wagtail, the Grey 
Wagtail (which at once began to breed), the Cuckoo (an hepatic 
variety at M. Gillieron’s), and a Thrush or two. Then to wind up 
the army came the Tree Sparrow, Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, 
Turtle Dove, Swift, and Serin Finch, preserving the same order as 
in England. The Serin Finch ( Serinus hortulanus ) may have 
arrived sooner than supposed ; for it is a small bird, unobtrusive, 
and much the colour of foliage, though the cock’s yellow back is 
bright enough in spring.* I saw one Citril Finch produced for 
sale from a birdcatcher’s stocking, but had not the luck to see one 
in a state of nature. 
The Nuthatch breeds, making its usual plaster nest, but there 
are no reeds for the River Warblers on this lake.t The Green 
Woodpecker, with its laughing cry and undulating flight, is common 
at and near Yevey ; but to see the rare Middle Spotted Woodpecker 
(Picas meclius), it is necessary to go a little way up the Rhone 
Valley, where among the gnarled old Chestnut trees there are 
many spreading giants. Here this species finds a congenial 
* It had arrived at Doan on April 14th (Zool. 1897, p. 63). 
t We stopped at Amiens in France, in returning to England. Outside 
the city, and beside the river Somme are some marshy ‘etangs,’ formed, 
I believe, by digging out the soil for peat fuel. On one of these ponds, not 
half a mile from the Cathedral itself, there are a great many edible Frogs, 
which make a din which nearly drowns all the Warbler tribe, consisting of 
a pair or two of Aquatic and Marsh Warblers, and a few very fine Great 
Reed Warblers. These giants of the Warbler tribe, locally termed ‘ Cracas,’ 
receive a visitor with noisy vociferations, no doubt because in May they are 
nesting, but I suppose only building on the 18th, as one or two were seen 
carrying in their beaks portions of the feathered reedtops, most likely for the 
lining of their nests. It is pretty to see them engaged in detaching this 
material from the tall swaying Reed, hanging in many graceful attitudes over 
the water, looking red in the evening light. Another noteworthy item is 
the presence of the Crested Lark at Boulogne, and Cape Grisnez, within 
sight of Shakespeare’s Cliff and Dover Castle— a bird which is practically 
unknown in England. It was not afraid to come quite into the village of 
Wimereux. 
