216 A SPRING TOUR IN PORTUGAL. 



I have but one remark to make in conclusion ; and that 

 is in reference to the extremely dark hue which almost 

 universally seems to characterise the birds of Portugal. 

 This peculiarity struck me on my first arrival in the coun- 

 try, and its existence was confirmed with every day's further 

 observation, while the notes given above of Mr. Tristram, 

 on the skins which I submitted to him, amply confirm 

 my own previous impression. Whether such deepening 

 of colour arises from the intense heat of Portugal, and, 

 like the inhabitants of that sultry clime, they are simply 

 sun-burnt and bronzed, or whatever be the cause, I must 

 leave it to others to determine ; enough for me to call 

 attention to the fact. 



And, as a last word, let me heartily recommend, not 

 only to tourists generally, but especially to my brother Orni- 

 thologists, a trip to that same extreme south-western 

 corner of Europe, now so accessible both by sea and land, 

 and which offers so many and so various attractions, — a 

 warm and dry climate to the health-seeker; unrivalled 

 ecclesiastical and conventual remains, of a unique character, 

 to the ecclesiologist and the architect; beautiful scenery 

 to the artist ; and novel customs, amidst an obliging and 

 hospitable people, to the general tourist ; while to the 

 naturalist in every branch, the geologist, the botanist, the 

 entomologist, the zoologist generally, there is a rich har- 

 vest of facts to be reaped in a field which, though so near 

 our shores, and now so easy of access, is, perhaps, less 

 known to the travelling public than any other region of 

 Europe. 



