82 Mr. H. M. Wallis on the Birds 



In the canon between Larruns and Eaux-Chaudes at least 

 two pairs had nests. One crossed the glen over my head 

 carrying something heavy and large ; his tail was clapped 

 down tight over it as he worked across to his ledge with 

 short laboured strokes of wing. After crossing the Col de 

 Torte we identified no more Buzzards^ but I think some 

 birds seen from the train near Bagneres-de-Luchon belonged 

 to this species. 



70. Aquila adalberti, L. Brehm. 



Determining the species of an Eagle on the wing is ticklish 

 work^ and the field-naturalist's heart warms towards any 

 bird that is at the pains to wear distinctive plumage. 



Twice we saw a dark-coloured Eagle splashed with white. 

 Once in the Valle de Ara^ whilst following iip fresh ibex- 

 tracks among the cliflfs, one of these pied Eagles flapped 

 past and was hailed as an " Imperial " by Passet. The 

 other occasion I have already enlarged upon. This bird was 

 many miles on the French side of the frontier. There was 

 a dumb-bell-shaped white patch on the underside of each 

 wing^ the rump or root of the tail showed a large expanse of 

 white, whilst the shoulder and fore-edge of the wings were 

 splashed. Our guides said the " Imperial " bred upon the Pic 

 Rouge de Pailla, just inside the French frontier^. 



71. Aquila chrysaetus (Linn.). 



Twice between St, Sauveur and Gavarnie we saw brown 

 EagleSj with yellow or tawny napes, and no white markings. 

 These were like the Scotch Golden Eagle in flight, colours, 

 and apparently in size. The style of country was just what 

 the Scotch Eagle likes — lightly wooded crags, heather, and 

 but little snow, none permanent. 



We met a shepherd-lad who had taken eaglets from the 

 nest on the Pic de Bergons last year. 



72. AcciPiTER Nisus (Linn.). 



I find I have marked the Sparrow-Hawk as "^ common," 

 but have only noted Eaux-Bonnes and St. Sauveur as 

 localities. 



* [In Spain it nests in trees. — H. Saunders.'] 



