290 Pictures of Bird Life 



that I^ord I^rilford first learnt the news of the assassination 

 of President I^incohi.) 



Descending the smooth, branchless trunk of one of these 

 pine-trees, witli tlu-ee Bhick Kite's eggs in my coat-pocket, 

 I had the misfortune to shp, and hmded on my back. 

 However, tliere was no damage done, except the breakage 

 of one of the eggs, which made a great mess in my pocket. 

 It might liave l^een worse, though. 



These eggs of the Black Kite and Common Kite, together 

 with two clutches of Magpies' eggs, were all we found on 

 this day ; but I was perfectly satisfied and well content. 



AVe found on our return that one of the sailors had 

 brought in two large round white eggs from a nest in a 

 pine, wliich he described as lined with grass and containing 

 a rabbit. Tliese were subsequently submitted to a great 

 authority on Spanish ornithology — Mr. Howard Saunders — 

 and were by him pronounced to be those of tlie Booted 

 Eagle {Aquihi pcuiuitd). 



The Imperial Eagle is found also among these pine-trees, 

 and we saw se^'eral. They were described by Benitez as 

 *' Aquila real. ' AVe came across an immense nest on the 

 extreme summit of the largest pine-tree I e\'er saw. I was 

 too tired even to attempt it ; and witliout rope or climbing- 

 irons it would have been impossible to ascend, as the tree was 

 much too large to clasp. The nest was, besides, probably 

 empty, as these birds })reed very early, beginning in January. 

 An immense primary feather was lying on the ground below, 

 the only evidence seen of the birds. 



