From Gordon’s Steamers 7 
hinder him in the execution of his duties, obviously nothing but 
benefit can come from the habit of mind which is adaptable enough 
to realize what is and what is not of supreme importance at the 
moment and escapes the narrow hide-bound military convention 
which prompts a man to view the Great Temple of Karnak as “an 
old ruin which would make a good station for Army Signalling.” 
Since this book deals almost entirely with my life among the 
birds of Spain, it naturally enough includes only my experiences 
in peace. Still, sometimes when I have found myself committed to 
an unusually awkward cliff, | have recalled Mr. Jorrocks’ immortal 
description of fox-hunting and have thought how much more 
applicable it was to an expedition after wild birds in a wild country 
where long marches, transport difficulties and lack of supplies, let 
alone troubles connected with fuel, water, cooking and quartering, 
alike combine to present a by no means imperfect image of war. 
As to the precise percentage of danger incurred in fox-hunting, war, 
or cliff-climbing, I must leave it to the individual opinion of every 
reader who may have experience of them. 
I will only cite two examples of birdsnesting on active service 
which may possibly amuse and at any rate will not shock my 
readers. In January 1885 the chances of war placed me for a brief 
period in acting command of one of Gordon's famous ‘ Penny 
Steamers” on the reach of the Nile below the Sixth Cataract. 
During the fighting at Abu Klea and subsequently all the naval 
officers had been killed and wounded save Lord Charles Beresford, 
and he was suffering from a most painful malady which required 
surgical aid and laid him on his back for seven days. During this 
time, our two small steamers were employed in reconnoitring up 
and down the Nile and in collecting supplies and fuel. Having 
landed one day with a party of Bluejackets and Gordon's Irregu- 
lars to round up some cattle, upon pushing through the groves of 
pomegranate and lemon near the river, we came to an open space, 
2 
