608 On the Winter Avifauna of the Camargue. [Ibis, 
Larus ridibundus (L.). 
The Black-headed Gull was very common, outnumbering 
all the other species pnt together. Not seen off-shore. 
Larus canus canus L. 
Not uncommon. 
Larus argentatus subsp. 
Only two Herring-Gulls were seen, much to my surprise. 
These were on the Etang de Yalcarhs, and were not near 
enough to permit me to say whether they were the northern 
bird or cachinnans , though I am familiar with both. 
Larus fuscus fuscus L. 
A few scattered birds seen daily. 
Porzana porzana (E.). 
Two Spotted Crakes were flushed in a little marsh north 
of Les Saintes Maries, and one was shot by a local nimrod 
who had joined me, a feat of which he seemed very proud. 
It is much more interesting alive than dead. This same bird 
was served to me by my landlady that evening, beaming with 
pride, and was by all odds the worst morsel of bird flesh my 
jaws ever worked on. 1 greatly prefer Parrots and Wood¬ 
peckers ! 
Fulica atra atra L. 
A large flock of over one thousand birds on the Etang de 
Valcar£s. The Gulls seemed to get great amusement in 
chivying them, and would repeatedly swoop down on the 
rear of the flock, whereupon all would patter wildly over the 
water for several hundred yards, the rearmost birds tumbling 
over those in front, so dense was their formation. 
Caccabis rufa rufa (L.). 
This Partridge was common in the northern part of the 
Camargue, and several coveys were seen from the train, to 
which they appeared entirely indifferent. A small flock was 
seen near the Etang de Valcares, 
