» INTRODUCTION. 
my attentions to the country within a day^s journey of 
Gibraltar. 
The observations on the Moorish birds are in a great 
measure culled from the MS. of the late M. F. Favier, a 
French collector well known to the ornithological world, who^ 
after a residence of about thirty-one years at Tangier, died 
there in 1867. I was informed that he had left a MS. 
written in French, containing his notes on birds ; but I was 
not permitted by the owner to do more than glance at it, 
although he offered it for sale at what seemed to me a very 
exorbitant price. Fearing to lose a book which might prove 
of considerable utility in the pursuit of my favourite science, 
I yielded to his demands and secured the coveted prize, but 
found upon perusal, amidst a mass of bad grammar, bad 
spelling, and worse writing, which cost many hours to 
decipher, that it did not contain so much information as 
I had reason to anticipate, a good deal of the matter having 
been copied from other authors. 
However, there was some grain among all this chaff; and 
such facts and details as are considered worth recording are 
given below with Favier^s name attached, and supplemented 
by my own observations in Morocco. These notes I keep 
separate from those referring to the Spanish side of the 
Straits. 
This little work is, it may be distinctly understood, not 
intended to give any special information to scientific ornitho- 
logists, but is published with the view of assisting with trust- 
worthy information any amateur collectors who visit South- 
western Europe ; and it is hoped especially that it may be 
useful to officers who, like the writer, may find themselves 
quartered at Gibraltar. For it admits of little doubt that the 
study of Natural History will always help to pass away with 
pleasure many hours that would otherwise be weary and 
tedious during the time military men may have to '' put in " 
at dear, scorching old " Gib.^^ 
There is ample room, for any one with energy, to work out 
a great deal more information on the birds of the Straits; 
but it must be remembered that little can be done in hasty 
