378 Lord Lilford on the Ornithology of Spain. 



common Nightjar [Caprimulgus europcsus) which came under 

 my notice in Spain. We here saw the first Rollers of the 

 season, but did not on this occasion succeed in adding one of 

 these birds to our collection. On the following day, however, 

 in the Soto, at this same locality, we shot seven beautiful ex- 

 amples of this species, and also obtained four of the Red- 

 necked Nightjar {Coprimulgus ruficollis), and -the same number 

 of the Lesser Kestrel. We also met with the Garden Warbler 

 {Sylvia hortensis) in great abundance, besides many other species 

 already mentioned, and took a nest with two eggs of the Black 

 Kite. 



During the next few days Manuel was obliged to be at Madrid, 

 and I was too lame to do much ; but I rode about the countrj^, 

 and, with the assistance of Agapo, procured several eggs of 

 some interest, amongst others those of the Red-necked Nightjar 

 and Little Ringed Plover {vEgialitis minor). The mode of 

 breeding of the first named exactly resembles that of its con- 

 gener; the eggs, two in number, are laid on the bare ground, 

 without any semblance of a nest. The nests of the Little 

 Plover were always close to a road or mule-track, and far from 

 any water ; the number of eggs is, as might be expected, always 

 four. On May 13th we went by a circuitous route over the 

 Llanos de la Cabina round to Las Ynfantas, and on our way 

 met with the Southern Grey Shrike {Lanius meridionalis), 

 which I had not previously seen in Castile. It is by no means 

 common in this locality. We also here found the Black-headed 

 Warbler {Sylvia melanocephala) , which, though very abundant in 

 the south of Spain, is apparently rare in these parts. It is a 

 remarkable fact that Cyanopica cooki should be quite unknown 

 in the neighbourhood of Aranjuez. I could not discover that 

 any of the keepers or woodmen were acquainted with it, al- 

 though it is so plentiful about Madrid, at a distance of about 

 twenty miles, — the only reason that I can imagine to account for 

 its absence being the want of the evergreen oak, to which it cer- 

 tainly exhibits a very remarkable partiality. Manuel returned 

 from Madrid, bringing several eggs of this Magpie from the 

 Casa de Campo, and on this occasion put me up to the art of 

 securing some Little Bustards, which consists at this season in 



