392 Mr. H. Saunders on the 



252. BoTAURUS STELLARis. "Cangrejcra/' "Avctoro;" also, 

 from its Owl-like flight and crepuscular habits, " Garza-mo- 

 chuelo." 



Tolerably abundant in the '^ marisma/^ where I saw it, and 

 where Lord Lilford afterwards obtained its eggs. At el Prat, 

 near Palma, I flushed one, which was evidently " dreaming the 

 hours away," from a small pine-tree; it flapped lazily away to 

 another tree ; and by cautiously following it up, I was enabled 

 to identify the species without the necessity of shooting a bird 

 which I did not want. 



253. Nycticorax griseus. " Martinete." 



Very abundant in the marshes of the Cotos, where it breeds 

 in colonies on small trees. In a clump of bushes rather than 

 trees, near the Palace of the Coto del Rey, I saw dozens of old 

 nests, at an elevation of from Ave to fifteen feet from the 

 ground, the construction being but a trifle more substantial 

 than that of a Ringdove, though somewhat larger. 



254. CicoNiA ALBA. " Cigucna." 



Abundant thi'oughout the country, breeding in the towers 

 and belfries of the churches of the towns and cities, and on the 

 " almihares" or stacks of the farm-houses. The largest num- 

 ber of eggs that I have known is five. On the strength of its 

 behaviour on the occasion of a certain fire at Delft, this bird 

 has acquired a reputation for unusual devotion to its off'spring; 

 but whatever may be the merits of the Stork as a mother, she is 

 well known as a thoroughly unfaithful wife ; indeed she is the 

 type of cunning conjugal infidelity, and her devices to hood- 

 wink her husband, which I have myself witnessed, are so curious 

 that it is a pity they will not bear description. To call a woman 

 of the lower classes " Cigueiia" is the most grievous insult pos- 

 sible. On the 15th May, returning from the Isla menor, we 

 passed an enormous herd, numbering, not hundreds, but thou- 

 sands, the main body whitening acres of ground, and feeding 

 with their heads down, just like flocks of sheep. Even after 

 passing the outsiders, which of course raised their heads, I 

 vacillated for a moment as to whether the huge white mass was 

 not sheep after all ; but a shot at a Kite which crossed at that 



