Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. 57 



3. Neophron PERCNOPTERUS. "Alimocha," "Grajo bianco;" 

 "Abanto," in Sierra Nevada; near Seville, "Rejilero." 



Comnion, except in winter, when but few remain in the country. 

 The 10th of April is the earliest date on which I have found eggs, 

 which are generally two in number. During the breeding-time 

 I never saw an immature bird in the mountains ; nor amongst 

 the hundreds which frequent the cattle-pens in the plains (called 

 rejiles, whence the name rejilero) did I ever find any but birds 

 of the first or second year. 



4. Gypaetus barbatus. " Aguila bai-buda/' " Quebranta- 

 huesos." 



One or two pairs may be found in every range of mountains ; 

 but the species is most abundant in the Sierra Nevada. I never 

 failed to see it every day I passed the Gaitanes range, about 

 twenty miles from Malaga, whence I received a nestling half in 

 down, taken on the 4th of May, 1869. This year a live one was 

 sent me, which is now in the Zoological Society's Gardens. In the 

 Institute at Granada are two birds of the year, which, according 

 to the Curator, were captured at night upon the nest, having 

 probably returned to roost there. The Rev. A. C. Smith, in his 

 " Notes on the Birds of Portugal" (Ibis, 1868, p. 434), appears 

 to be under the misapprehension that the term Pica-osso, applied 

 to V. cinereus, belongs properly to the present species. Pica-osso 

 means a "^^ bone-picker," an excellent name for a Vulture, whereas 

 '^ Quebranta-huesos " is emphatically a "bone-smasher," a term 

 which would be utterly misapplied to a Vulture, but singularly 

 appropriate to the Lsemmergeyer, whose smashing proclivities 

 have been well known since the days of ^Eschylus *. 



This species often lays but one egg; still two fertile eggs 

 are by no means uncommon. The young bird is covered with 

 sooty-brown down, lighter on flanks, and darker on head and 

 throat. 



5. Falco peregrinus. " Halcon." 



Common throughout the country, breeding in every mountain- 

 range. Specimens in my collection are fully as large as any from 

 more northern localities. 



[Cf. Ibis, I860, p. 282.— Ed.] 



