Bird Life in the Spanish Marismas 275 



lie at uiK'hor tlie stately warships and large passenger- 

 steamers, which are ever arriving and departing ; and across 

 the narrow straits can be plainly seen Centa and the African 

 nionntains. 



Between the north front and the nentral gronnd there 

 is a wide moat, on which are numbers of Coots and JNlallards, 

 feeding and swimming about in the most unconcerned manner 

 witliin a few feet of the noisy and busy traffic constantly 



Grey 1-'i,cjvi;ks iSijaatniold lnii'€iiai ). 



passing along the dusty roads leading to the Spanish lines. 

 Though so tame, these are perfectly wild birds, free to come 

 and go as they like ; and they may be seen towards e\ening 

 flying in from seawards, and, after wheeling round, pitching 

 down on the water. 



It was reported in the hotel that an Egyptian ^^llture 

 was in the habit of daily ^•isiting the officers' mess of the 

 South Wales Borderers, where food was regularly provided 



