Scrub and Wood, 43 



from the ground. The raven is well known as a very 

 early breeder in England, often having eggs in the beginning 

 of March, but in Spain, although so many miles further 

 south, we found fresh eggs on April 26th, and slightly 

 incubated ones as late as May 11th. It is possible, of 

 course, that the bird has two broods in Spain, but I think 

 it unlikely, as we never saw any young ravens about. 



As we were riding one day across these sandhills, a 

 great black eagle — the Spanish Imperial eagle* — rose in 

 front of us and flew away with a big straggling mass of 

 white in its claws. We followed it, anxious to discover 

 what was its prize ; and we were not the only beings who 

 watched the great bird with interest. No sooner had it 

 settled again than four kites and two ravens flew down 

 and stood near at hand, whilst several more kites swooped 

 round and round in the air. The eagle, rending and 

 devouring his prey, took no notice, but the kites and ravens 

 watched his every movement, afraid to attack, but still 

 expecting a share of the booty. At last we fired a shot 

 from our hiding place. The eagle was so surprised that 

 he dropped his quarry and soared away on high in giant 

 circles, while the kites and ravens disappeared as if by 

 magic. The straggling white mass was a half-eaten 

 spoonbill, a bird nearly as big as the eagle itself. 



There are two kinds of magpies in Spain, our common 

 magpie t and the Spanish or azure- winged magpie. J We 

 found many nests of the common magpie. They were all 

 built in low bushes, and none of them had the dome, 

 which is the chief characteristic of the magpie's nest in 

 England, as well as, I believe, in every other country 

 it inhabits. Why the magpie should build a roofless. 



Aquila adalberti. f Pica rustica. X Cyanopica cooJci. 



