Bird Life in thie Spanish Marismas 27'.> 



are devoured bv many f)f tlie raptorial bir(K. \'ei'y soon 

 after leaxiiii;' the station a I'lishiiig" sound beliind made me 

 turn (juickK'. and I saw au Kagle elcjseiy pursuing another 

 one. whieli had tiiinly gripped in its chiws a large lizard. 

 In tlieir excitement tliey had approaelied (piite elose to me. 

 l-'rom theii- white-harred breasts, they were seen to be tlie 

 Snake-eagle, or Short-toed Eagle — a migratory species wliieh 

 crosses into Spain in tlie sunnner to teed on the numerous 

 snakes and hzards. and nests in tlie cork- and pine-trees. 



Passing on tlie wav a I'oadside " venta."" I went in for 

 sometliing t(j eat and drink. The aeeonmiodation in these 

 places is of tlie roughest, though I had some capital eggs 

 and some sour wine. " Huevos fritos" (fried eggs) are the 

 oidv thijigs eatable, so far as my exjK-rienee goes, in Spain. 



On entering. 1 found the host, sun-dried and lean, sitting 

 on a rcnigh beneh on the earthen lioor of the pubhe room. 

 In one corner stood sundry mules and donkeys, and cocks 

 and hens ran in and out of the open doorway. Just o^-er 

 his iicad nian\' Swallows were visiting their nests in the 

 rude rafters, perfectly tame and unconcerned. I heard after- 

 wards that only the day before a man had been dangerously 

 stabbed in this same " venta "" in a (piarrel with a rival over 

 the old maifs daughter. probabl\- the same girl who waited 

 on me. However. I knew nothing then of all this, and 

 enjoyed my meal and rest : for carrying a camera o\-er rough 

 country under an Andalucian sun. even in April, is trying 

 work. 



i)n one side of the line a small stream runs, full of 



