LOCAL OBSERVATION 33 



in the neighbourhood of Valencia, which is more or less 

 of a flat garden for miles. Poor Rudolph was always in 

 such a tearing hurry that he never gave himself a chance 

 of becoming really acquainted with the birds of Spain ; of 

 course, as Gypaetus does not breed in colonies, never lays 

 more than two eggs, and is by no means a wary bird, it 

 can hardly be said to be ' common ' anywhere in Europe ; 

 but my experience has been to the effect that a pair, 

 sometimes two pairs, are always to be found breeding in 

 Spain, not amongst, but very near to the many colonies 

 of griffons. I believe that you will find that all the 

 most birdy localities on the Danube, above Belgrade, 

 are in the hands of private owners, who, however, 

 especially in Hungary, are most civil and obliging to 

 English naturalists. Let me know if you think I can 

 be of any sort of use to you." ' 



''April i^th, 1888. 

 " I do not remember to have heard of golden eagles 

 hatched in captivity, or, as far as I recollect, even of their 

 laying eggs in those circumstances. The truth, as I am 

 firmly convinced, is that in these large species of eagle, 

 the birds are not really ' mature ' till they have com- 

 pleted their fifth or sixth year, and in a wild state some 

 never acquire the fully mature dress, though they may 

 live for a hundred years ; and another curious fact is 

 that a pair of old eagles that have bred and driven off 



1 To Col. H. Barclay. 



