Bird Life in the Spanish Marismas 307 



On returniiio- to dry hind, we found Benitez and Auefustin 

 luird at work blowing a large basketful of l^iu'ple Herons' 

 and Coots' eggs. 



Leaving the Spoonbills, an hour's further ride over an 



endless succession of sand-dunes brought us in sight of another 



lagoon, surrounded on all sides by sand, wliicli appeared to 



be gradually filling up the water. As oiu' ea\ak*ade rode 



up, some low tamarisk-bushes, growing thickly massed together 



in the water, were seen to be crowded with immense nvunbers 



of white birds, which, as we approached, rose into tlie air 



in dense clouds, circling round with a great deal of noisy 



clamoin- and confusion. It was a most extraordinary and 



interestino- siolit ; and I realised that in front of us was a 



breeding colony of tlie Southern Herons, which are such 



a characteristic feature in the ])ird life of this aquatic region. 



There were Buff-backed Herons in thousands. These 



alone were well A^ortli the journey to see, for they breed 



nowhere else in Europe : and with them were countless 



numbers of the lo^-ely and graceful Little Egrets, which 



have suffered so nuich persecution on account of their beautiful 



plumes, the demand for which has almost exterminated them 



in more accessible localities. 



Squacco Herons Avere not so numerous, though I did 

 see a few of tliese beautiful little birds ; and there was quite 

 a goodly lunnl^er of Xiglit-herons and Glossy Ibis. 



Seebohm's most graphic description of a somewhat similar 

 nesting colony on tlie Danube came into my mind as I gazed 

 on the animated scene before me. and I appreciated then, 



