106 Description. of the Landes of Acquitania. 
The shores afford a great variety of marsh and aquatic birds. The 
migration of these birds, which return in spring from the north of 
Africa, the islands of the Archipelago, and of the Mediterranean, 
the coasts of Barbary and Spain, is much regulated by the direc- 
tion of rivers, and the situation of the larger lakes, leading them 
always to choose for their point of departure the spots where the 
passage from the great sea to the lakes and rivers of the interior is 
shortest, and less occupied by dry territory. ‘The track mostly fol- 
lowed by all aquatic birds is, however, by the sea side ; and thus all 
birds coming from the coasts ef Western Africa and Spain to the 
north, pass along the shores of the Bay of Biscay. But the large 
flocks which assemble in the north gulf of the Mediterranean, fol- 
low the Po, traverse the Appenine Alps, rest on the waters of the 
lakes of Switzerland, or descend the Rhine finally to join the Bal- 
tic. 
Besides the sparrow-hawk and merlin, frequenting the villages 
and cultivated spots, there occurs in the Pignadas the white falcon, 
(Falco Brachydactylus, Wolf,) met with principally in the oriental 
parts of Europe, feeding on lizards and serpents, but said to prefer 
the latter. ‘To these may be added the Falco Lanarius, F. Buteo, 
and F. Rufus. — 
In the marshes, lagune, and /étes of the downs, most ef the 
waders and runners, found in similar spots in the British islands, 
are to be met with, and with them spoonbills; storks, cranes, &c. 
On the Landes the fine variety of green lizard, (Lacerta agilis, 
Lin.) whose length often exceeds a foot, marked on each side by a 
series of spots, of an azure blue colour, is met with in the early 
part of the year. The more common variety is very abundant, va- 
rying considerably in its appearance, from brown to a light green, 
but never attaining the size, rapidity of motion, nor external colour- 
ing of the former. ~ 
The chirp of various grasshoppers is heard in the heather shrubs, 
while the green-bedied Mantis, capable of a longer flight, roams 
across their solitudes, representing with its bright brilliant wings, 
the butterfly of the fowering meadows of the north. 
Certain Coprides, the Ateuchus Sacer, Latr. revered by the an- . 
cient Egyptians, on whose monuments it is generally figured, some 
Curculionedes, the shinmg Pimelia (P. muricata, Latr.} and the 
fBgialia arenaria, delight to live in the downs. They may be seen 
retracting their antenne and feet, abandoning themselves to the 
winds, and allowing their diminutive bedies to be borne with the 
sands to very great distances ; but oftentimes small birds of prey 
watch and seize them on their journey. The gigantic Forficula, 
(F. gigantea, Fabr.) Cicindela flexuosa, C. Scalaris, Scarites sabu- 
losus, Panageus quadripustulatus, Dejean. Nebria arenaria, Bra- 
chycerus barbarus, B. muricatus, are also insects ef the downs. 
Among the rarer species to be met with in the Landes, we may 
mention the Cymindis lineata, Dejean. Zuphium olens, Scarites 
terricola, Harpalus megacephalus, Abax ovalis, Licinus agricola, 
