384 Lord Lilford on the Ornitholoyy of Spain. 



I hear, the fauna of those provinces differs very considerably 

 from that of the central districts, and of course still more from 

 that of the Andalucias. I am told, on good authority, of pine- 

 clad mountains whose fastnesses are tenanted by the bear, the 

 lynx, and the Capercally, their summits offering a home to the 

 chamois and the Ptarmigan, whilst lower down roe-deer, Wood- 

 cocks, and our common Grey Partridge [Perdix cinerea) in 

 great numbers reward the armed explorers. Whilst on the 

 subject of Partridges, I may here state that, with the one excep- 

 tion mentioned below, I have never met with any Partridges 

 in Spain but the common Red-legged species [Caccabis rufa). 

 The Barbary Partridge (C. pelrosa) I saw only on the Rock of 

 Gibraltar, whither it was introdueed from the African coast ; 

 I have heard of its former occurrence in Murcia, but am assured 

 that it is no longer to be met with in that province. The 

 Grey Partridge is confined to the north ; and I could not 

 hear of the Bartavelle [Caccabis saxatilis) in any part of the 

 country, — my experience on this point entirely coinciding with 

 that of Captain Cook-Widdrington ('Sketches in Spain,' p. 279). 

 To return to my proceedings at Madrid : I went down once 

 or twice more to the Casa de Campo, but without any great 

 result, merely adding some very brilliant Golden Orioles to my 

 collection, and having opportunities of watching the habits of 

 that singular bird the Little Bittern [Ardeola minuta), which 

 was breeding on the banks of the small lake in these grounds. 

 Bee-eaters were committing great ravages amongst ManuePs 

 bee-hives ; and his chico, or servant lad, was. busily engaged from 

 daybreak till dark in shouting and firing to keep them away. 

 The heat was now considerable, and had silenced most of the 

 birds ; the change in this respect between my present and former 

 rambles in these grounds was very remarkable. In April the 

 call-note of the Scops-Owl, the thrilling music of Cetti's 

 Warblers, and Nightingales, the chuckle of the Red-legged 

 Partridge, the incessant babble of the Great Sedge Warbler in 

 the reeds, and a multitude of other bird- sounds enlivened these 

 groves and glades; but now, with the exception of an occasional 

 faint laugh from the Green Woodpecker, and the flute-like call 

 of an " Oropendola" (the Golden Oriole), hardly a sound of 



