Taking the path leading to the right, we managed by dint of a little wading to reach Gerde, a village possessing little internal interest besides the neat church, but otherwise known to fame from the “palomieres,” or pigeon-traps, worked between the trees which fringe the hills above it.  During the autumn, when the pigeons are migrating, huge nets are spread between the trees, and on the approach of a flock, men, perched in a lofty “crow’s nest,” throw out a large wooden imitation of a hawk, at the sight of which the pigeons dip in their flight and rush into the nets, which—­worked on the pulley system—­immediately secure them.  There are three species taken in the traps:  the wood pigeon, the ringed wood pigeon, and the wild dove.

Leaving Gerde by the principal thoroughfare, we came back to Bagneres by the Toulouse road, passing the Cattle Market—­held in a triangular space shaded with trees—­on the left; and the Geruzet Marble Works, and later the Parish Church, on the right.

[Illustration:  PALOMIERES DE GERDE.]

With the exception of the baths or Thermes, we did not find many places of interest in the town.  The old Jacobin tower, surmounted by a clock, in the Rue de l’Horloge, is all that remains of a convent built in the 15th century, but is in a good state of preservation.  The theatre is part of what was formerly the “Chapel of St. John,” used by the Templars.  The porch over the doorway was erected in the 13th century, and is of the Transition style, utterly incongruous to the use now made of it; but this kind of sacrilege is unhappily now becoming of common occurrence!  Leaving the theatre, in a short space we were in the “Place des Thermes,” where the New Casino is being built among the shrubs on the right.  The “Grand Etablissement,” which occupies the centre of the “Place,” contains seven different springs, and there is another in the circular building outside, the latter being only used for drinking purposes.  On the first floor of the building are the library (to the left), the geological room (in the centre), and the picture gallery (to the right).  The corridors leading to the first and last are panelled with good specimens of the Pyrenean marbles, and in the same room with the pictures is a supposed model of a section of the Pyrenees—­anybody gaining any information from it deserves a prize.

To the left of this establishment stands the “Hospice Civil,” a fine building in grey stone.

The Carmelite Church, on the left of the road leading to Mount Olivet, where several pleasant villas are situated, is now closed, the “order” having been dispersed two years ago; so nothing is to be seen there of interest except the sculpture representing the “miracle of the loaves” over the door.

One institution must not be forgotten, viz, the afternoon tea or coffee at Madame Cheval’s.  This good lady presides over a confectioner’s shop opposite the end of the Hotel (Beau Sejour), in the Rue du Centre.  Her cakes and coffee are good, and, thanks to our enlightened instructions, anyone taking some tea to her can have it properly made, and be provided with the necessary adjuncts for enjoying it; cream even being attainable if ordered the previous day.  We spent many a pleasant half-hour there, and can well recommend others to follow our example.