326 Pictures of Bird Life 



their picturesque appearance, interesting subjects for tlie 

 camera. 



The hope of an opportunity of visiting some of the 

 breeding-places of both Griffons and Egyptian A^ultures was 

 not reahsed, though both species breed in the sierras not far 

 from Gibraltar. 



The Harriers, too, were a failure, thouo'h the sig-ht of 

 an " Aguilucho "' was a daily occurrence. Though always 

 on the look-out for a nest, and systematically beating 

 through in line several likely looking swamps, we ncAcr 

 succeeded in finding one. If at any time we marked down 

 a bird, it was only to find it liad been regaling itself on 

 Purple Herons' or Coots' eggs. 



In fact, none of the larger Hawks or raptorial birds 

 were found breeding, though we did get several clutclies of 

 Kestrels' eggs from old Kites' nests, or rather what ^vc took 

 to be Kestrels'. The birds, however, were not seen ; and on 

 comparison with eggs of Kestrels taken in England, these 

 eggs are decidedly smaller, and very round — some exceed- 

 ingly richly coloured, and others blotched with reddisli o^■er 

 a pale ground-colour. They luive been pronounced not to 

 be Lesser Kestrels' by a competent autliority. Possibly they 

 are Hobbies' ; but, in the absence of identification of the 

 birds, they are not of much value or interest. 



A pair of Peregrines were subsequently seen apparently 

 breeding in the cliffs near Coruna, thougli no nest could 

 be found. A Kestrel was also disturbed from a hole in 

 the cliff- face, which contained bones and pellets. These 



