Mr. H. Saunders on the Birds of Southern Spain. 223 



185. CoLUMBA LiviA. " Paloma brava." 



Abundant on the rocky east coast and in all mountain- 

 rangeSj this species swarms to an almost incredible extent in the 

 mountains at the back of the Sierra Nevada. When winding 

 through the dreary ravines between Baza and Lorca, vast flocks 

 kept pouring down to their feeding-grounds from sunrise to 

 about 8 A.M.; and we estimated the number which passed quite 

 near to us as about seven thousand, without noticing more di- 

 stant bands. Each flock was invariably led by a white or pie- 

 bald bird. 



186. CoLUMBA TURTUR. " Tortola." 



Abounds throughout the country from April to September. 



187. Pterocles arenarius. " Ortega/' " Churra/' and, 

 near Seville, " Corteza." 



This species is found on the coast in wanter, but during the 

 rest of the year prefers higher and more arid localities than the 

 following species, which it almost replaces in La Mancha. 



188. Pterocles alchata. " Ganga," 



Abundant in Andalucia, where it breeds in May, making no 

 nest, but depositing three eggs in a slight hollow scratched in 

 the soil. Its flesh is very dry ; but I must say that the preceding 

 species when killed in winter is not by any means bad eating. 



I never saw a specimen of Syrrhaptes paradoxus in any part 

 of Spain ; but I may mention incidentally that there is a fine 

 adult bird in the museum of Perpignan, just over the border, 

 obtained 18th October 1859. 



189. Caccabis petrosa. 



Is only found on the Rock of Gibraltar, where it breeds; 

 probably introduced. One specimen is in the Murcia museum, 

 and Dr. Angel Guirao informed me that this species, now almost 

 extinct in that province, was formerly not uncommon. 



190. Caccabis rufa. " Perdiz." 



Common everywhere. Caccabis saxntilis I never found in any 

 part of Spain. 



191. Perdix cinerea. 



Almost unknown south of the Sierra Morena and, I might 



