EXCURSION TO CAPE SPAllTEI., BARCARY. 119 



sides one of the commonest trees is Quercus ballota, and the myrtle is by 

 no means rare. I noticed two species of Acanthus, one of them was spino- 

 siis but the other I did not know, In a sheltered nook by the side of a 

 mountain stream I found Osmunda regalis, and a beautiful Adiantum with 

 fronds about a foot long. After resting a short time at the lighthouse 

 we went forward to Cape Spartel ; the path is extremely bad and the 

 descent into the little bay rather dangerous. Upon our arrival at the 

 Cape we left our horses to graze upon the flat ground on the top of the 

 cliffs and entered a most singular cavern. Here we sat upon the rocks 

 with the sea rolling in just below us, and had lunch. 



After resting an hour we mounted our horses and recommenced our 

 journey, following a narrow path that led across an extensive plain. 

 Sometimes we skirted fields of barley or Zea Mays, at the edges of which 

 were growing Scabiosa arvensis and succisa, Linum iisltatissimum, Lotus cornicu- 

 latits, and other common British plants. The beautiful grasses Briza 

 major and minor were abundant, but I saw no specimens of m£dia which 

 is so common in England. I also noticed Lamarkla aurea, and Trisetum 

 l(x fling lanum. As the weather was remarkably fine the birds were singing 

 all the day. I distinguished the songs of nearly every bird that I am 

 acquainted with; amongst them those of Anthus arhoreus, Sylvia Jiortensis 

 and cineria, Troglodytes europccus, Alauda alpestris, Tiirdus merula and 

 musicus, Salicaria phragmitis. That unmusical bird, Crexj^ratensis, was the 

 commonest of all. 



In the course of our ride we reached 'the banks of a sluggish stream 

 over which there was no bridge ; my horse got safely over with some 

 difficulty after sinking considerably over the knees in mud, but Hamet 

 was not so fortunate, his horse fell in making violent exertions to extricate 

 itself from the bog and Hamet was thrown to the ground. Whilst he 

 was washing his legs which sadly needed it after his promenade in the 

 bog, I spent the time in taking a survey of the neighbourhood. Fortun- 

 ately the accident had happened in a beautiful valley near a village. On 

 the roofs of the cottages stately storks were sitting in their enormous flat 

 nests, others were flying slowly and gracefully in circles above the village. 

 These singular birds nearly always build their nests upon houses, and, as 

 their presence is considered a shield from evil influences, they are never 

 disturbed. In September they all leave for the south and return about 

 May, each one taking possession of its old nest. On our way home I saw 

 many enormous Onojwrdums and Centaureas, Eryngiuni marilimum, Slaiice 



