Bird Life in the Spanish Marismas 327 



cliffs would doubtless have rewarded a l)etter and more 

 prolonged search if we had had more time to spare. As 

 it was, we only put in for two or three days on our run 

 home after leaving Lisbon. 



In T^isbon we saw nothino- ornithologically interesting. 

 A few Kites hovering oAcr the Tagus, and an apparently 

 wild Stork in the Zoological Gardens, which flew down and 

 began to walk about the paths close to us in a most 

 familiar manner, were the only things seen. 



The end of this most enjoyable expedition came all too 

 soon, but the memory of it will last for the rest of my life. 

 The only drawback to my complete enjoyment of such a 

 unique opportunity was that I was alone during the best 

 part of it — the stay in the marisma itself; and that the 

 health of my friend, whose guest I had been from England, 

 and to whose generous kindness I was indebted for the 

 whole of the expedition, would not permit him to leave his 

 yacht. IJttle did I think that, after my return to England, 

 I shoidd only see him once again. 



Spain is a most interesting country for the naturalist, 

 and would well repay a much more prolonged trip. But 

 not many discoveries can be expected. It is ill gleaning 

 after such experienced workers as Chapman, I^ord Lilford, 

 Colonel Irby, Howard Saunders, and the late Prince 

 Rudolf hiive been over the ground. And though so near 

 and easily reached, the conditions of life, away from the 

 hotels of the large towns, are entirely different from any- 

 thing that might be expected, and travellers ignorant of the 



