20 The Study of Wild Birds 
Sapper shinned up and pulled out the big nest which was lined with 
veldt grasses and wool and contained freshly-laid eggs. The inter- 
esting point to me was that I instantly recognized them as similar to 
some unidentified eggs brought to me when a small lad in the Isle 
of Wight from the Cape over thirty-five years before. They were 
true Crows’ eggs in shape and markings but, in place of being 
green, were red-brown. 
We soon joined on a wire and got into communication with 
Orange River and I found myself speaking to an_ Inspecting 
General who had arrived in my absence at Orange River in a 
real armoured train (mine was merely an ‘‘unarmoured cruiser”) and 
expressed his intention of coming on to see what we were about. 
Somebody took the inevitable photograph of me when struggling 
with the telephone. Months afterwards, I purchased in Paris a 
reproduction of the photograph thus taken, duly inscribed ‘“ Le 
colonel Kekevitch se servant du téléphone de campagne en avant de 
Kimberley”! To me it recalled the whole situation, the telegraph 
post, the despoiled Crow’s nest and the impassive Sapper taking 
mental notes of my telephone language. 
When, owing to the very serious injuries I received during 
the war in South Africa, I was compelled to leave the Army, my 
thoughts at once turned to Spain, where the climate would suit 
me in the winter months and where I could continue and extend 
my researches in the wilder regions. 
‘Since 1901 I have spent half my time in Spain and _ before 
the troubles became acute made an expedition to Morocco also. 
Hence the birdsnesting adventures in this book deal almost 
entirely with Spain. Owing to my intimate knowledge of many 
remote spots in this beautiful country, explored during many 
expeditions made before the war in South Africa, I am able, in 
spite of the serious handicap due to my injuries, with the aid of 
horses or mules to re-visit these parts. Once on the spot, I can 
