94 Proceedings. 



wild Canary does not seem abundant, though almost every 

 house has one in a cage. The Chaffinch and the Chififchaff 

 are to be heard and seen everywhere. An elegant species of 

 Wagtail is also common, with yellow on its breast, yet not 

 exactly like either our Yellow or our Grey Wagtail. A pair of 

 them were my constant companions on the housetop while 

 watching and waiting for the sunrise. Also a pair of 

 Sparrows. Yes, actually these two Sparrows, bright, clean 

 respectable birds, sprightly, but not saucy, were the only 

 Sparrows I saw in the islands. I cannot explain the fact nor 

 guess what had become of the rest of the tribe. Hawks 

 hovering in the air are abundant, and once I saw a Vulture 

 also high up in the air. The Hoopoe too is frequent, a 

 beautiful bird which I only knew before in books and pictures. 

 Our noisy friend the Jackdaw is in full force here as else- 

 where, and I think he completes the list of the birds I saw 

 in Teneriflfe. Palma, the other island we visited, is, though 

 of the same character, smaller, more richly wooded, and the 

 mountain ravines more accessible than in the larger island. 

 A mule ride of an hour from the coast (there is but one 

 carriage-road in the island) takes you up 2000 feet into a 

 glorious forest depth of Canary Laurel and Canary Pine. 

 Here is shade and solitude with open vistas here and there 

 through which you look down over plantations of Bananas, 

 Peach, and Nectarine trees, and gardens full of Roses, with 

 the bluest of seas beyond. There are more wild flowers here 

 than in Teneriffe, most notably the wild Cineraria, with a 

 handsome mauve blossom, the original stock we suppose of 

 our greenhouse varieties. And by its side, with eyes brighter 

 and bluer than ever, grows our dear English Forget-me-not. 

 The Ferns too are various, luxuriant, and attractive ; except 

 the Maidenhair, all new to me. 



From the thick foliage of the Laurel come the home-like 

 notes of the Robin, and from the rocks above the less musical 

 voice of the Chough, or Red-legged Crow. It is remarkable 

 that this handsome bird, though common in Palma, is 

 unknown in Teneriflfe, except in a cage ; in which it is in 

 much esteem as a pet by those who do not mind noise ! We 



