CEA ANE Raat: 
THE LESSER BIRDS OF THE SIERRA. 
The varied attractions of the Sierras—Moorish and Roman remains—A race of 
rock dwellers, a subject for antiquarian research—The Common Wren— 
The Crag Martin—A swim for a nest—An unlucky “identification ’—The 
Blue Rock Thrush—The ‘‘ Sparrow alone upon the housetop ’’—Excep- 
tional powers of dissimulation—An awkwardly-placed nest—Vain regrets— 
Young Blue Rock Thrushes—A sweet songster—Search in sea-clifls— 
Nest in Charles V.’s Wall—Riflemen on guard—A long-deferred victory— 
The Black Wheatear—A most retiring species—Repeated failures to find 
nest—The sentry-box and the Black Wheatear—The Pedvevo—Curious habit 
of building nest with stones—A remarkable nest. 
—_— 
Y original object in penetrating into 
the more remote parts of the country 
was to see certain species of birds 
in their haunts; but from the very 
first I realized what exceptional oppor- 
tunities were thus placed within my 
reach, not only as regards the 
birds and their nests but almost 
every other branch of natural his- 
tory. In a wild country such as | 
have endeavoured to describe hardly 
a day passes without one seeing some 
animal, reptile or insect which cannot 
fail to arouse the interest of the most 
unimaginative. The extraordinary 
wealth of flowers and flowering shrubs, the diversity of those 
