Bird Life in the Spanish Marismas 



;j().5 



I was paddled oxvv to tlie 

 nests witli some difficulty. 

 There were about a dozen, of 

 exactly similar a])pearance and 

 construction to those I had 

 seen in Holland, Hat, rough 

 platforms of dry yellow reeds 

 and sticks, just raised above 

 the surface of the water, which 

 was rather deep — quite foin- 

 feet. Each nest contained 

 eggs, two, three, or four in 

 number, which varied con- 

 siderably in shape, some being 

 very rounded, and others, 

 again, remarkably elongated. 



I was soon overboard, and 

 astonished ^Nlanuele consider- 

 ably by telling him in Spanish, 



as well as I was able, to go away, but had the usual diffi- 

 culty in making him understand that I wanted him to go 

 right away out of sight and hearing. I was most anxious 

 to photograph one of these birds at its nest, and it was 

 obviously useless for me to hide up while he was pottering 

 a}K)ut in a punt within siglit of them all. However, at last 

 he was made to understand what I really wanted, and he 

 departed, very unwillingly, being, I dare say, very doubtful 

 of my intentions. 



•20 



Bee-eater (Mcmps apinsler) on Topmost 

 Twig of a Cork-tree. 



