176 BIRD-HUNTING 



which seemed to pay much attention to this heronry. 

 Many young birds had been devoured in the nests, 

 but whether the Harriers had killed them first, or 

 whether they had simply devoured the dead ones 

 they found I cannot say. Eagles, too, were con- 

 stantly seen flying over, also the Mediterranean 

 Herring Gulls (Lams cachinnans). These birds 

 were nesting not far off on a sandy stretch with 

 occasional bushes and pools of water. There also 

 was a large colony of Caspian Terns apparently 

 nesting, although I could find no eggs. Norfolk 

 Plovers were numerous, and I found two of their 

 stone-coloured eggs after noticing the place from 

 which a bird had risen. A few Pratincoles also 

 frequented the same spot, and I picked up one day 

 a broken egg-shell. Purple Herons were common, 

 and daily a Bittern boomed close by. I could hear 

 them booming every night, while a Scops Owl 

 regularly uttered its curious cry from across the 

 river, and sometimes a glimpse of one could be 

 seen flying over the house. Little Owls also are 

 common here ; I have often seen them sitting on 

 a house-roof in the broad sunshine in the middle 

 of the towns and villages. 



Bee-eaters were abundant, and were often seen 

 sitting on the single telegraph wire which here 

 crosses the river. One day we borrowed a spade 

 and dug out a couple of holes in the level ground, 



