Bird Life in the Spanish Marismas 311 



Sqiiacco's ct)gs are pale, Aery round, and by far tlie smallest 

 of them all. 



\\(^ were not fortunate enough to find any nests of the 

 Bittern ("Ave toro ") or the Little Bittern, botli of wliieli 

 are eommon enough. l*lenty of Mallards and Coots were 

 observed while we were at this heronry, and a Little (^rebe 

 was also seen. The loud song of a C4reat Reed-warbler also 

 elaimed our attention, but a thorough search among the 

 reeds failed to find any nests. In fact, nowhere in Spain 

 did we find a nest of this eonunon W^arbler, the reason 

 probably being tliat they nest later. They are certainly 

 late breeders in Holland, and our own Reed-warbler always 

 seems to me to Mait until the reeds have well grown up 

 before it begins to make its beautiful home. 



Xo account of this district would be complete without 

 a mention of the sand-dunes, which are such a striking- 

 feature of the country. They appear to be encroaching fast 

 on the forests and lagoons, the fine particles carried by the 

 wind filling up the latter and burying the former. 



On tlie dazzling surface only broken by tall tufts of sea- 

 pinks and the yellow-spangled cistus-bushes, are many tracks 

 of various birds and animals. The curious footprints of the 

 Stone-plover, or Thick-knee, are very numerous, and several 

 clutches of eo-os were found on the bare sand. Here is the 

 slot of a passing red deer, and the curious track of the 

 lizard, and there the serpentine trail of a snake. One 

 mark puzzled us for a long time, until an accident revealed 

 its origin. It looked as if some animal with many feet 



