CHAPTEll IX 



Bird Life in the Spanish Marismas 



Sfaix is iiiKl()iil)teclly 

 tlie country wliic-li 

 offers most attnictious 

 to the oriiitliologist at 

 the present day. First 

 of all, the country it- 

 self lias many natural 

 advantaoes in tlie im- 

 mense range of climate 

 and temperature, owin<)- 

 to its pliysical pecu- 

 liarities. The snow- 

 clad heights of the 

 sierras look down on 

 sunny vineyards and 

 olive-groves twelve 

 thousand feet below, 

 where the orange, 

 banana, and other sub-tropical fruits and plants grow freely 

 and abundantlv. Tlie soil, too, is of as diverse a character 



WooucHAT-sHRiKE {Laiiiits poiiieraiius). 



